In September 2022, the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) closed their borders to most Russians in response to the Russia's invasion of Ukraine, launched in February 2022.

On 13 September 2023, Estonia banned vehicles with Russian license plates from entering their territory, in accordance with a decision by the European Union.

Major powers in the region were Livonian Order and Novgorod Republic that encompassed Pskov, Karelia and Izhora that conducted trade i.a.

Despite the extensive cross-border trade and mixed populations of the borderlands, the law, language, religion of Russian principalities went a different way compared to their western neighbors.

[7][8] Livonia and Sweden used the border as means of containment of the rising tsardom, preventing craftsmen and arms supplies from western Europe from entering Russia.

[9] During the early 16th century turmoil in Russia, the Kingdom of Sweden conquered the whole Novgorodian coastline of the eastern Baltics and formed Swedish Ingria.

[17] In late 1918, a war broke out between Soviet Russia and Estonia supported by the White Russian Northwestern Army and the British Navy.

By February 1919, Estonians repelled the Red Army back to Russia and, in April 1919, the Bolshevik government initiated peace talks with Estonia.

[16] The British government, however, pressed to continue the war and in May and October 1919 Estonian and White Russian troops attempted two major offensives towards Petrograd.

The Estonian party proposed Russian counterpart to cede about 10,000 km2 (3,900 sq mi) from the Petrograd and Pskov Governorates to the east of the prewar borders.

Petseri County was inhabited predominantly by Russians as well as Setos and, unlike other regions in Estonia proper, its municipal self-governance was subject to veto power by a special officer appointed from Tallinn.

Border trespassing by the local population split between two countries was a common issue, raising concerns of smuggling and espionage on both sides.

Soviet illegal immigrants who were ethnic Estonians were offered refugee status in Estonia to avoid their expulsion back to the USSR.

After the 1941 Nazi German invasion of the Soviet Union the occupied territory of the Republic of Estonia was in 1941–1944 administratively organized into Generalbezirk Estland of the Reichskommissariat Ostland.

[26] Inter alia, the notorious Saatse Boot was supposed to be exchanged for Marinova and Suursoo plots of land in the areas near Meremäe and Värska.

[39] Estonia also fortified its coastal defenses, announcing plans in 2020 for additional sea mines and anti-ship missiles to deter Russian aggression.

[41] In September 2022, the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) closed their borders to most Russians in response to the Russia's invasion of Ukraine, launched in February 2022.

The 5-kilometre (3.1 mi) area adjacent to the border may be visited by the non-local population if a permit is obtained for tourist, business or private reasons.

Russian fishermen on the Lake Peipus and Narva River are required to give notice each time they plan to sail and to return to the harbour before sunset.

Until the border agreement is ratified, Saatse Boot remains with Russia; it may be freely crossed from and to Estonia en route from Värska to Ulitina with no checks provided that no stops are made in transit.

[citation needed] In the early 1990s there was a stable arms smuggling channel from Estonia to Russia through the barely controlled border, causing severe incidents.