Estonia summons Russian envoy to protest Putin remarks

FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with his Estonian counterpart Kersti Kaljulaid at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia April 18, 2019. Alexander Nemenov/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

Estonia on Friday summoned the Russian ambassador to condemn President Vladimir Putin's "completely unacceptable" praise for an 18th century Russian ruler who captured a city that is now Estonian.

Putin paid tribute on Thursday to Tsar Peter the Great, who he said had taken back territory that was Russia's during a long war with Sweden from 1700 to 1721. Putin specifically mentioned Narva, which belongs to Estonia, one of the three Baltic States and a NATO member.

Estonia's foreign minister said Ambassador Vladimir Lipayev had been summoned "to condemn recent statements by President Putin ... including his comments on the Estonian city of Narva," it said in a statement.

FILE PHOTO: People walk on the bridge over Narva river at the border crossing point with Russia in Narva, Estonia February 16, 2017. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins/File Photo

"At a time when Russia is ... trying to destroy the statehood and people of Ukraine, it is also completely unacceptable," it added.

Putin compared Peter's campaign with the task facing Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February.

Estonia was part of the Russian empire for more than two centuries before gaining its independence in 1918. In 1940 the Soviet Union annexed the country, which did not regain its independence until 1991.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Leslie Adler)