Putin thinks he can win in Ukraine as a result of it issues extra to him than to the U.S., says CIA chief

Russian President Vladimir Putin is betting that Russian forces can prevail in Ukraine via a grinding battle of attrition and believes “Ukraine issues extra to him than us,” CIA Director William Burns instructed lawmakers on Thursday.

Regardless of morale and different issues dealing with Russian forces in Ukraine, “Putin could be very a lot taking a longer-term view,” Burns instructed a Home Intelligence Committee listening to.

“I feel he’s doubling down,” Burns stated. “I imagine he’s satisfied that he could make time work for him, that he can grind down the Ukrainians via this battle of attrition, that he can put on down Western supporters of Ukraine.

“And he’s satisfied additionally and has been for a while that Ukraine issues extra to him than to us,” stated the CIA chief, a former U.S. ambassador to Russia.

“Due to this fact, the problem, I feel, is to puncture that view.”

In its annual report on world threats, the Workplace of the Director of Nationwide Intelligence wrote that Russia doubtless wouldn’t be capable to make main territorial beneficial properties in Ukraine this yr, and can be hard-pressed to take your complete Donbas area within the nation’s east.

“The Russian navy has and can proceed to face problems with attrition, personnel shortages, and morale challenges which have left its forces susceptible to Ukrainian counterattacks,” the report stated.

On China, Burns stated Beijing had not made a choice on whether or not to take navy motion to grab management of Taiwan, however stated he wouldn’t “underestimate the ambition of the present Chinese language management in that regard or the willpower.”

Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines stated on the identical listening to {that a} battle over Taiwan would have an enormous affect on the worldwide financial system and the availability of semiconductors, and that the Treasury, Commerce and different U.S. authorities departments have examined the potential impact.

“Research present that it might even have completely huge implications for the worldwide monetary financial system if there have been disruption to Taiwan’s semiconductor manufacturing as a result of actually . . . Taiwan, the semiconductors, the chips that come out of Taiwan, are current in just about each class of digital gadgets around the globe,” Haines stated.

Burns additionally urged China doubtless must weigh the financial affect if it selected to arm Russia, because it might deprive it of entry to the European market.

“It’s been vital that European leaders have spoken up on this problem as nicely, as a result of I feel for a very long time that the Chinese language management has assumed that it might drive wedges between the US and our European allies on a difficulty like this,” Burns stated. “I feel the truth that a number of outstanding European leaders have spoken out straight about it is a crucial step.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has warned China to not ship weapons to Russia.

Victoria Ebner contributed.