Thursday, November 14, 2024
spot_img

Putin views Ukraine conflict as war he cannot afford to lose: US Intel chiefs

Date:

Share post:

spot_img
spot_img

New Delhi, March 9:  The US intelligence community believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin views the conflict in Ukraine as a “war he cannot afford to lose”, suggesting he is likely to escalate the conflict without any concern for the number of civilians killed, the US’s top intelligence chiefs told the US Congress, CNN reported.

Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said at a congressional hearing that the US intelligence assesses Putin is unlikely to be deterred by the setbacks the Russian military has faced in Ukraine, suggesting he is doubling down on his campaign to keep Ukraine from joining NATO.

CIA Director William Burns said Putin had launched the invasion “determined to dominate and control Ukraine” based on a set of assumptions that the conflict would be successful, including that Ukraine was weak, that European allies like France and Germany were risk-averse, that he had “sanctions-proofed” his economy and that his military was capable of a quick and decisive victory at minimal cost, CNN reported.

“He’s been proven wrong on every count,” Burns said.

The discussion of Putin’s motivations that led to Russia’s bloody invasion of Ukraine last month — and the sweeping, crippling sanctions from the West in response — offered the most public assessment to date of the US view of Putin’s ill-fated war in Ukraine.

The intelligence community — which forecast Putin’s moves in the lead-up to the invasion — testified before the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday at an annual worldwide threats hearing.

“This is a matter of deep personal conviction for him,” Burns told the committee. “He’s been stewing in a combustible combination of grievance and ambition for many years”, CNN reported.

IANS
spot_img
spot_img

Related articles

SC junks PIL raising security concerns of communications through Whatsapp, Telegram

New Delhi, Nov 14: The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) raising...

Meghalaya roots for fast-track courts to deal with PIT-NDPS case

Shillong, Nov 14: Meghalaya Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh on Thursday informed that the State would communicate to...

Dev Deepawali: Varanasi prepares for huge influx of tourists, hotels & boats booked

Varanasi, Nov 14:  As the city prepares to celebrate Dev Deepawali on Friday (November 15), lakhs of tourists...

Education Ministry forms panel to probe ‘mismanagement’ in NEHU

Shillong, Nov 14 : In light of serious concerns raised by the students, student associations, and reports in...