War in Ukraine is likely to become more unpredictable, U.S. National Intelligence Director says

The war in Ukraine is likely to become “more unpredictable and escalatory”, the nation’s Director of U.S. National Intelligence told Congress.

CNN informs about this.

She described a rather grim picture of the next phase of the war. Haines said that it will be difficult to predict the course of hostilities, as “Putin faces a mismatch between his ambitions and Russia’s current conventional military capabilities.”

“The current trend increases the probability that President Putin will turn to more drastic means, including imposing martial law, reorienting industrial production. “Or potentially escalatory military actions to free up the resources needed to achieve his (Putin’s – Ed.) objectives as the conflict drags on, or if he admits that Russia is losing in Ukraine,” she said.

Still, Haines said that the intelligence community does not believe Putin would turn to the use of nuclear weapons unless he feels there is an existential threat to Russia.

At the same time, the United States believes that Putin is preparing for a protracted conflict.

It is noted that his goal extends far beyond Donetsk and Luhansk regions and control of the Kherson region. He also wants a land corridor to the occupied part of Moldova.

Haines stressed that U.S. intelligence considered Putin’s goal to reach Transnistria without full mobilization inside Russia to be unrealistic.

The intelligence community also believes that since the Kremlin is still hoping for military progress in their favor, there is no viable negotiating path ahead, at least in the short term.

Previously, U.S. President Joe Biden has signed the Lend-Lease Act for Ukraine.