The United States believes that Vladimir Putin is preparing for a long conflict in Ukraine and a Russian victory in the Donbas in the east of the country might not end the war, the US director of national intelligence has said. Speaking at a Senate hearing, Avril Haines added that the Russian president was counting on the Western resolve to weaken over time and as the conflict continued, there was concern about how it would develop in the coming months.
US intelligence chief warns of nuclear risk if Putin perceives ‘existential threat’