Putin running out of options in Ukraine as sanctions hit Russia hard, Estonian intelligence says
Photo: Russian president Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
Russian president Vladimir Putin has few good options regarding the war in Ukraine, as the Russians are making no significant gains on the front line while Western sanctions are draining Russia’s resources, the head of Estonia’s foreign intelligence service, Kaupo Rosin, reports Reuters.
He stressed that the aggressor country is losing more troops than it is recruiting in the fifth year of the full-scale war. According to him, a general mobilization in Russia would be unpopular and could undermine internal stability.
“All these factors together are creating a situation where some people in Russia including in the higher levels understand that they have a big problem. Hard to say what Putin thinks about it, but I think all these factors are starting to float into his decision-making,” Rosin said.
He noted that the main reason for Russia’s very difficult financial situation is sanctions against the financial sector, which are “really, really hurting,” as well as restrictions on exports of Russian oil.
“I think it's very difficult choices for them now. It's hard to predict what they will decide in this current situation. So my message is let's push forward with (sanctions). This is not the time to hesitate, just let's keep going,” the Estonian intelligence chief emphasized.
Russia will not abandon its goal
At the same time, Rosin is convinced that Russia will not abandon its goal of subjugating Ukraine as long as Putin remains in power. In his opinion, Russia will maintain a significant military presence along Ukraine’s borders even after the war ends.
According to the head of Estonia’s intelligence service, after the fighting ends, the Kremlin will seek to expand its military presence along NATO’s borders and will strive for “military dominance … from the Arctic until the Black Sea.”
“The military ambition is very, very big on the Russian side,” Rosin stressed.
He also predicts that the Kremlin will continue carrying out acts of sabotage in the West despite the danger posed to civilian lives.
Data recently emerged showing that trust in Vladimir Putin among Russians has fallen to its lowest level since the start of the full-scale war. Even official polls confirm this.
RBC-Ukraine also reported that Russia is preparing a new mobilization of up to 300,000 people if the Kremlin decides to continue the war against Ukraine for another one to two years. But no final decision has yet been made.
