CIA Director William Burns, a former U.S. ambassador to Moscow who has studied Putin for years, concurred that the Russian president is 'angry and frustrated' by the situation in Ukraine, and will likely step up his efforts.
U.S. intelligence officials fielded questions from lawmakers on the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and the role of the U.S.Top U.S. intelligence agency officials on Tuesday offered a sobering assessment of Russian President Vladimir Putin's objectives in Ukraine, and how the invasion could affect the safety and security of the United States.
Adding that the U.S. is seeing an"ill-constructed plan, morale issues and considerable logistical issues" among Russian troops, Haines said it is"unclear" whether Russia will pursue a plan to capture all of Ukraine, but that it's already loosening its rules of engagement. CIA Director William Burns, a former U.S. ambassador to Moscow who has studied Putin for years, concurred that the Russian president is"angry and frustrated" by the situation in Ukraine, and will likely step up his efforts.CIA Director William Burns testifies during a House Intelligence Committee hearing on"worldwide threats," on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., March 8, 2022.
"I think he's been unsettled by the Western reaction and allied resolve particularly some of the decisions the German government has taken. I think he's been unsettled by the performance of his own military," he said."The big countries don't get to swallow up small countries just because they can."Russian Presidential Press Service via AP