- Putin is convinced that the “doubling” will help Russia reverse the situation in Ukraine, said CIA Director William Burns.
- Putin may redouble his efforts because “he doesn’t believe he can afford to lose,” Burns was quoted as saying by CBS News.
- Russia has failed to take positions in the Donbass region and reports say military morale is low.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to redouble his efforts in Ukraine despite his army’s weakening offensive, CIA Director William Burns said on Saturday, according to CBS News.
“I think he’s convinced right now that doubling will still allow him to make progress,” Burns told the Financial Times weekend festival, CBS News reported.
The Russian leader is in a “setting in which he does not believe he can afford to lose,” Burns continued, according to CBS News.
Putin has already “bet a lot” on the second phase of the Ukrainian offensive, Burns added, in which Russia redirected its military efforts to southern and eastern Ukraine.
Burns’ comment that Putin will double comes amid reports of low morale among Russian troops and the Pentagon’s assessment last week that his forces were “behind schedule.”
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is now concentrated mainly in the Donbass region. After 10 weeks, Russian troops are still unable to take control of any major city.
Ukrainian resistance is fierce, with analysts telling BBC News that Ukraine’s military operation is turning into a successful counter-offensive.
Putin’s “biggest mistake” during the invasion, Burns said, was to “underestimate the Ukrainians.”
The Russian leader is now trying to “adapt some of the lessons from the failures of the first phase,” Burns told CBS News.
Some Western officials expect Putin to make a major statement on May 9 to show Russia’s strength ahead of a symbolic military Victory Day parade.
There are reports that he intends to officially declare a total war on Ukraine, which Russia has hitherto called a “special military operation.” Other reports suggest Putin may introduce a general mobilization.
“As an intelligence community, we see no practical evidence at this time of Russian planning for the deployment or even potential use of tactical nuclear weapons,” Burns told CBS News. He added, however, that “we cannot take these opportunities lightly.”
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