This article is an opinion piece that was written in collaboration with the Travel Committee. Its contents represent the standpoint of the authors and not UPF Lund or The Perspective’s editorial board. Additionally, all uncited claims and photos were taken from UPF’s trip to Estonia.
In early June 2025, one month after Max Ulander and I were elected heads of the travel committee for the upcoming (now ongoing) operational year, I stepped into the UPF Lund office and was informed that we would be taking the association to Tartu, Estonia.
Estonia wasn’t on the aspirational list of possible destinations that Max and I had put together just the week before but, looking back on our trip now, I can say with confidence that it should be on yours.
With a population numbering less than one and a half million, Estonia certainly qualifies as a small state. We were able to cross almost from one corner of the country to the other—Tallinn in the northwest, and Tartu in the southeast—on a bus ride that took far less than three hours. At the same time, as a prominent lecturer made sure to emphasize, Estonia is also a whole nation. During our visit, we gained a deeper appreciation for the outsized role that Estonia plays on the regional and continental stage as a member of the Nordic-Baltic Eight, the European Union, and NATO.
The purpose of our trip to Estonia was to return a visit already paid to us by members of RSR (Rahvusvaheliste Suhete Ring) back in November. UPF and RSR, our sister association in Estonia, are at the tail end of a year-long collaboration that has spanned everything from reciprocal visits to magazines to podcasts. Our Nordic-Baltic knowledge exchange has been at the core of this year’s operations and, thanks to Erasmus+ funding through the Small-scale Partnership in Youth Programme, we had the opportunity to benefit from lectures, panels, workshops, and visits to official institutions in Tallinn and Tartu. I have once again asked our trip participants to reflect on their experiences, and have woven together some of their accounts below.
On behalf of the group, I want to thank RSR for the time and care that they put into our itinerary, and the warmth with which they welcomed us to their city. I hope that the connections made during this exchange will continue to reverberate into the future.
I also want to convey my most sincere gratitude to Edwina Magnus and Joosep Raudsepp, the 2024/2025 operational year’s president and vice president of the Lund Association of Foreign Affairs, for laying the foundations on which we have been able to build so much.
Best,
Sabina Rameke
Tallinn
Louise Falk, March 4th: Walking through Tallinn’s Old Town was a very similar experience to walking around Stockholm’s old town. The narrow cobblestone streets, medieval buildings, and city walls were so well preserved that it almost felt like stepping back in time.
Dmytro Boiaryn, March 4th: The old town embodies the richness of Estonian history. As you walk through it, a wide variety of architectural styles reveals the influence of the many powers that once ruled this charming city. Personally, I was particularly impressed by the Gothic medieval churches, mainly built by German merchants, such as St. Nicholas’ Church. These buildings reflect not only the aesthetics of the Middle Ages but also the complexity of Estonian history.
Michael Volkonsky, March 4th: The walls, the churches, the old buildings—they all look like they were taken out of Brandenburg or some city in Swabia. It was both fascinating and sobering to learn that the Baltic Germans were forcibly resettled or killed during events just 80-90 years ago. It goes to show how quickly a place can change.
Diana Nadyrova: I would also like to highlight the variety and quality of the food the city has to offer—you can find everything from Asian food to a variety of European dishes, as well as unique Central Asian options like Uzbek and Kazakh dishes. Overall, Tallinn left me wanting to return and spend more time discovering the city!
Louise Falk, March 4th: The visit to the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided us with a solid overview of Estonia’s foreign policy priorities and its role in regional cooperation. We were warmly welcomed by our hosts, diplomats Celia Kuningas-Saagpakk and Mikael Laidre, who immediately made the discussion feel engaging and personal. It was particularly interesting to hear about the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) and how Estonia works closely with the Nordic countries on issues such as security, economic development, and political coordination. The discussion highlighted how smaller states can still play an active and influential role in international cooperation through flexible and informal partnerships.
Dmytro Boiaryn, March 4th: Our visit to the Swedish Embassy in Tallinn gave us the opportunity to admire the exterior of a historic building in the heart of Tallinn Old Town. Once inside, the Swedish Ambassador to Estonia, Charlotte Wrangberg, delivered an informative lecture on the history and current state of Swedish-Estonian relations. She emphasized the extensive cooperation between the two countries, Sweden’s significant impact on the Estonian economy, their shared geopolitical goals, and the unwavering support that both nations show for Ukraine.
Ella Hellerup, March 4th: Beyond traditional political relations, the embassy plays a key role in fostering cultural exchange and supporting Swedish businesses in Estonia. I found it particularly interesting how close and multifaceted Swedish-Estonian relations are, shaped by both historical ties and modern economic cooperation.
Tartu
Ella Hellerup: Tartu immediately felt familiar to me. In a way, it reminded me of a Swedish university town, with its strong student culture and sense of academic tradition. As we walked through the city, I noticed traces of shared history with Sweden in the university environment. For example, learning about the swede Johan Skytte being the founder of Tartu University made the connection to Sweden feel much stronger. At the same time, these influences felt naturally woven into a distinctly Estonian context. I really appreciated that balance. It made Tartu feel both comforting and new in a way that’s hard to describe but easy to take a liking to.
Diana Nadyrova: Our days in Tartu were incredibly full! Time seemed to pass so quickly because everything around us was so engaging—I hardly even checked my phone. Each morning, we would wake up, get ready, and enjoy breakfast either at our hostel or in one of the many cozy cafés, before setting off on an activity packed day.
Paula Grandas Perales, March 5th: On our first morning in Tartu, we attended a workshop in opinion-piece writing with Dr. Marju Himma. What I found most interesting was how she explained that everyone comes with a “historical package”. When writing, everyone has an unavoidable bias based on the country, values and language they grew up with. We will always carry our background with us, whether we want to or not.
Dmytro Boiaryn, March 6th: Our visit to the Nordic Council of Ministers branch office in Tartu was followed by a lecture about Nordic-Baltic cooperation, with an emphasis on the role that Estonia plays in it. The lecture and the subsequent discussion, once again highlighted the entangled past of Estonia and Sweden, as the conversation drifted to the history of the University of Tartu and its Swedish roots.
Ella Hellerup, March 6th: One discussion from the Nordic Council of Minister’s Office that stuck with me was about Estonia’s agreement to receive Swedish prisoners. It sparked a nuanced conversation about responsibility-sharing, differences in prison systems, and how such arrangements raise both practical and ethical questions. I appreciated how openly these complexities were discussed, without reducing the issue to something purely political or logistical.
Dmytro Boiaryn, March 6th: The lecture arranged by Margit Säre, Chairwoman of the Peipsi Center for Transboundary Cooperation, proved to be very informative, as it enriched our knowledge about Lake Peipus, which lies on the border between Estonia and Russia. We were able to learn about the nature of transboundary cooperation and how it has been affecting the aforementioned countries for decades.
Diana Nadyrova, March 7th: It was a real pleasure to visit the Estonian-Swedes museum exhibition at the Estonian National Museum. We were guided by an excellent tour guide whose detailed explanations and thoughtful perspectives helped us better understand the meaning behind the installations. Her storytelling made the experience much more vivid and accessible. The exhibition itself was highly interactive, allowing us to touch, sit, and actively engage with the displays. It gave us the chance to try tying different knots, sit in an old boat, and even touch a seal pelt, making the experience especially memorable.
Louise Falk, March 7th: Before this trip, I had limited knowledge about the Estonian Swedes and their history, but walking through the exhibition gave me a much better sense of their communities and cultural heritage. Seeing how their traditions survived over centuries, despite war, occupation, and migration, helped me understand the deeper human connections between Estonia and Sweden. The exhibition complemented the government-to-government perspective that we had gained from our other visits, showing the relationship at the community level.
Ella Hellerup, March 7th: That evening, we were invited to a surprise event that combined a session of reflection with our shared love for Zara Larsson. It was such a fun and unexpected way to look back on everything we’d experienced, but what stayed with me the most was the conversations with the RSR members. I especially appreciated my chat with their President, Liisbet, as we spoke openly about female leadership and the challenges and lessons we’ve both encountered in our roles. It was a genuine and inspiring exchange that I’ll carry with me.
Dmytro Boiaryn, March 8th: Lastly, we had a final lecture with Mart Kuldkepp, a professional historian. He presented a detailed overview of modern Estonian history, clearly explaining the impact Swedish rule has had on the formation of the modern Estonian nation. This lecture helped us understand not only the past of this Baltic country, but also what shapes its modern political goals, as well as societal and economic tendencies.
Reflections on the exchange
Louise Falk: The collaboration with RSR was one of the most valuable parts of the whole experience. Being able to experience Tartu like a local and exchange thoughts on politics, culture, and regional cooperation helped me understand Estonia from a personal perspective. As someone from Skåne, which became Swedish in 1658 (the same time that Estonia was under Swedish rule), I found many interesting similarities during our time there.
Dmytro Boiaryn: In many ways, Estonian national identity is connected to the historical memory of the “Good Old Swedish Time.” This understanding helps explain Estonia’s strong pro-Western orientation and its efforts to build close relations with Sweden.
Michael Volkonsky: I did not have the honour to personally host them in Lund, as I was away in Canada, but it was nice to see them join our Debate event! From my visit, I think they were incredible hosts. They spent more or less the whole week with us.
Paula Grandas Perales: As a Trustee at UPF’s Pod & Radio Committee, it was really nice that RSR and UPF got together to do a joint podcast to reflect on the trip and discover more about the respective countries.
Louise Falk: One of the most memorable things I learned was how closely Estonia cooperates with the Nordic countries through frameworks like the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8). I was also struck by the strong sense of pride among Estonians, which was visible in the many national flags displayed around the city.
Dmytro Boiaryn: I am very thankful to the members of RSR for giving us such unique insight into Estonian culture, history, and politics. But most of all, I am thankful to them for being such friendly and hospitable hosts.
Conclusion
It has been a little under a month since we stepped back onto the tarmac in Copenhagen, greeted by sunny weather and the first signs of spring. Still, the feeling was bittersweet. Even now, I find myself missing Estonia, and I’m confident I’m not alone in that.
Our time in Tartu was defined not by a single moment, but by many conversations, shared experiences, and an atmosphere that felt both familiar and unique. Some of us compared Tartu to Lund, others saw more resemblance to Uppsala, but what truly stood out were the people. To Rahvusvaheliste Suhete Ring (RSR), thank you for being such wonderful hosts. You made us feel right at home. Your energy, openness, and engagement were central to making our visit so memorable.
Through panels, lectures, and discussions, we were able to connect academic perspectives with lived experience. Conversations on Nordic-Baltic cooperation highlighted the importance of the NB8 framework, not just as a political idea, but as a practical space for dialogue, security, and regional alignment. What stood out most was the role of student-led initiatives in driving these exchanges. As we return home, we do so with a deeper understanding of our shared regional context, and a renewed appreciation for cooperation in an increasingly complex international environment.
Sincerely,
Max Ulander
