Putin wants to "catch breath" and ready to negotiate truce in Ukraine - Estonian intelligence
Photo: Putin takes a breather (Getty Images)
Kaupo Rosin, Director General of Estonia’s Foreign Intelligence Department, stated that Russia is "in principle willing" to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine, but only to "catch breath," as Vladimir Putin has not abandoned his imperial ambitions, Reuters reports.
According to Estonia’s annual intelligence report, the Kremlin aims to expand its armed forces to 1.5 million personnel, up from 600,000–700,000 in late 2022. The report states that new Russian military units will be sent to Ukraine to gain combat experience.
Rosin noted that after the war, these forces would be stationed along NATO’s borders, including in the Baltic states. He warned that NATO must increase its presence in the region to counter this threat.
The report also suggests that during any potential negotiations, Russia is likely to demand the withdrawal of NATO troops from its eastern flank — a move that, if successful, would allow Moscow to dominate the Baltic region.
Estonia, a NATO member, closely monitors Russia’s military capabilities, viewing Moscow as its primary security threat — especially following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Like its Baltic neighbors, Latvia and Lithuania, Estonia was forcibly annexed by Moscow during World War II and only regained its independence in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Talks about ending Russia’s war in Ukraine have intensified since Donald Trump was elected US president three months ago, after he pledged to secure a peace deal within 24 hours. However, during this period, combat operations on the front lines have only escalated, as have Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian cities.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington wants to end the war, but achieving a just peace, where Ukraine remains a sovereign and independent country, remains a distant goal.
