Estonia’s foreign intelligence chief has warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin faces “very difficult choices” in Ukraine as Western sanctions increasingly strain Moscow’s economy and military capacity.

Axar.az reports, speaking to Reuters, Kaupo Rosin said Russia is struggling to achieve meaningful battlefield gains while suffering heavy losses and economic pressure from sanctions targeting its financial system and oil exports. He added that Russia’s offensive progress has slowed significantly, with no clear signs of a strategic breakthrough.

Rosin said the combination of battlefield stagnation and economic constraints is creating internal pressure within the Russian system, though he noted it remains unclear how this is influencing Putin’s decisions. He also warned that large-scale mobilisation would be politically risky inside Russia.

Despite the pressure, the assessment suggested Moscow is not currently showing signs of changing its core war objectives in Ukraine, and continues to insist on its demands in ongoing diplomatic discussions.