U.S. Believes Russian President Putin Preparing for Prolonged Conflict

Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines tells the Senate Armed Services Committee that the U.S. believes Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing for a prolonged conflict in Ukraine and that victory in the Donbas region is unlikely to end the war, which is now in its third month. She says President Putin is focused on developing and controlling a land bridge from the Donbas to Transistria, but will likely require some military mobilization in order to maintain it. Director Haines says the Russian leader is more willing "to endure challenges than his adversaries and is probably counting on U.S. and EU resolve to weaken as food shortages, inflation and energy prices get worse." Haines also warns of possible flashpoints in the weeks and months ahead as Russia seeks to interdict western security assistance to Ukrainian forces. And she says that Russia is likely to continue using nuclear rhetoric to deter the U.S. and its allies but does not envision him using nuclear weapons un close