When Barack Obama lands in Estonia on Wednesday he will find a country anxious not just about the intentions of its big eastern neighbour but of its new western allies too.

Obama's whistlestop tour is arguably the most important presidential visit that this tiny Baltic republic has had since independence in 1991. Events in Ukraine have alarmed Estonia – another country that shares a border with Russia, has a large Russian-speaking minority and which was occupied by the Soviet Union for almost 50 years.

The Obama visit, coming a day ahead of the Nato summit in Wales, is designed to show solidarity with the alliance's small Baltic outposts, which fear that Russia may turn its attentions to them once it is done with dismembering Ukraine.

Officially, Estonians say they are confident that any Russian aggression towards them as Nato members would be met with a united front, backed by force if necessary, from the 28-member alliance. The Nato charter's famous article 5, which states that an attack against one member state is an attack against all, is the bedrock of the association.

"Article 5 acts as a very strong deterrent to aggression against Nato members," Andres Vosman, security adviser to the Estonian president, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, told the Guardian. "We are sure that those aggressors attacking Ukraine currently know the meaning of collective defence very well."

But for some Estonians there's an unsettling feeling of deja vu, as their diminutive country is caught up in broader geopolitical forces. Obama's visit and words of support may do little to buoy their spirits.

"As for Obama coming, whatever helps to keep Putin away is OK," said Hannes Tamm, owner of a small business in Tallinn. "But we feel like we're just stuck in the middle of events again, powerless to do anything about it."

Tamm feels that vulnerable "new Europe" countries such as Poland and the Baltic states are being left to hang out to dry by EU members more concerned with economic ties to Russia.

"The whole attitude in the EU is completely corrupt, irresponsible and hypocritical," he said. "The French are providing Russia with weapons and the Germans are worried about their gas. Obama coming to Estonia won't help with this."

As for the "born free" generation of Estonians who know of the Soviet occupation only from their schoolbooks and older relatives, the idea of war is anathema to their world view and lifestyles.

"I just prefer not to read the news, as there is too much negativity and fear," said Aija Kivi, the young director of a modelling agency in Tallinn. "If there is any big news we'll find out about it on Facebook anyway."