Switching to European gauge will cost Ukraine billions - Estonian minister.

Changing the gauge from Russian to European poses a challenge for Ukraine and requires significant financial effort. This was stated by the Estonian Minister of Infrastructure Vladimir Svet in his interview with Ukrinform.

"This is yet another challenge for Ukraine, as changing the gauge requires significant financial expenditures. It is unrealistic. I think we need to think together about how to make this process effective, how to ensure proper technical support and protect the railway from possible hostile use," he noted.

Svet also noted that Estonia is facing the issue of different track widths, using Russian tracks of 1520 mm standard while simultaneously constructing the modern Rail Baltica from Tallinn to Poland.

The Minister of Infrastructure explained that in reality, the Baltic countries and Finland do not plan to change the gauge, but instead will build new railways using European standards and think about how to prevent potential hostile use of the railway.

The Estonian official positively assessed Ukraine's joining the Trans-European Transport Network TEN-T and noted that this will connect the railway links of the Baltic countries with Ukraine.