The left wing in Estonia is aligned with the Russian speaking voting block. Similar to Democrats and Mexicans here. It’s only a matter of time. Economically and culturally the big market in that part of the world is Russia. It’s not even close. Nobody in Spain wants to buy Estonian consumer products, food, etc. Millions of people in St. Pete and Moscow do. Eventually that will have a political outcome, IMO.
I stayed a few weeks in Narva (the 90% Russian town you speak of) and Tallinn, the capital, during their Independence Day (from Russia) festivities and NATO parade.
It was a bit of a warp for me because not that long before I was across the border in Russia surrounded by red flags and sickle/hammers at Russia’s Victory Day Parade LoL.
All I can say is:
So long as PUTIN is in power, I assure you Estonia is firmly in Europe’s corner and the most passionate, paying, and committed member of NATO.
Yeah there have been scuffles of course, especially after Estonia made it so that you need to pass a language test to become a citizen (Estonian is a notoriously difficult language) - frustrating many Russians.
But now dialogue has evolved and Russians and Estonians collaborate together in I.T. fields. I’ve witnessed this firsthand.
Also: Estonian Russians are NOT the same as Crimea-Russians mentality wise. Estonia offers perks for Russians that Ukraine did not offer Crimea.
How relations shape AFTER Putin is gone is anyone’s guess though, you’re right.