Estonia said on Thursday it would prevent Russian nationals from obtaining temporary residence permits or visas to study in Estonia.

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"Maintaining sanctions against Russia is essential to ensure unrelenting pressure on this country," Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said in a statement.

“If sanctions help to end Russian aggression, a positive effect on our own security will ensue,” he added.

Estonia also said that short-term employment of Russian and Belarusian citizens with legal residence permits issued by another EU member state would no longer be allowed.

Mr Reinsalu said the additional measure was intended to ensure that Russian and Belarusian citizens could not circumvent sanctions by obtaining a short-term visa for another country.

Belarus, an ally of the Kremlin, facilitated Russia's invasion of Ukraine by allowing Russian troops to attack from its territory.