CIA Director William Burns described Russian President Vladimir Putin as “angry and frustrated”, suggesting that he would “redouble his strength and try to crush the Ukrainian army without regard to civilian casualties,” as he put it.
He added that he and CIA analysts did not know how Putin could achieve his goal of capturing the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and replacing the government of President Volodymyr Zelensky with a pro-Moscow leadership.
In parallel, the heads of US intelligence agencies revealed on Tuesday that the Russian president may intensify his attack on the Russian Federation Ukraine Despite what they called the military setbacks and economic difficulties caused by international sanctions, paving the way for “a difficult few weeks ahead.”
“Our analysts believe that such setbacks are unlikely to deter Putin, and may instead escalate matters,” Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines added at the House Intelligence Committee’s annual hearing on global threats.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (AFP)
She also made clear that there was always the possibility of an “unintended escalation” due to a significant increase in tensions.
No changes in the nuclear posture
Testifying with other directors of intelligence agencies, Haines said that Putin’s announcement to put his nuclear forces on high alert was unusual, but intelligence analysts had not noticed more changes in Russia’s nuclear posture than had been observed during previous international crises.
It is noteworthy that the Russian military operation launched by the Kremlin on Ukrainian territory on February 24, entered its 13th day on Tuesday amid an unprecedented security alert in Europe, touching the atmosphere of World War II, according to what more than one European official recently warned.
Russian army columns are trying to tighten the noose around Kyiv
Those Russian attacks entailed a massive sanctions campaign against Moscow, amounting to more than 500 penalties. It also called for the readiness of NATO countries, which sent qualitative military and financial aid to Kyiv to confront Russian operations.