US Director of National Intelligence Says War in Ukraine Won't End Anytime Soon

US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines made a speech at the Defense Intelligence Service. (Wikimedia Commons/US Deputy Secretary of Defense Total H. Hicks)

JAKARTA - A top United States intelligence official on Thursday assessed that Russian President Vladimir Putin, seeing domestic and international developments tending to be in his favor, would most likely continue aggressive tactics in Ukraine, but the war was unlikely to end soon.

Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Russia has intensified attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure to hamper Kyiv's ability to move its weapons and troops, slowing defense production and forcing it to consider negotiations.

"Putin's increasingly aggressive tactics against Ukraine, such as attacks on Ukraine's electricity infrastructure, are intended to give Ukraine the impression that continuing to fight will only increase damage to Ukraine and does not provide a reasonable path to victory," he said, as reported by Reuters, May 3.

Haines and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse briefed the intelligence community's 2024 assessment committee on the threats facing the United States.

"These aggressive tactics will likely continue and the war is unlikely to end any time soon," Haines said.

He further said that China had helped shift the momentum of the battlefield in Russia's favor in Ukraine, by providing components and other materials needed to shore up its defense industry.

Beijing's help comes as Russian forces make gradual advances in Ukraine and Moscow attempts to increase pressure on Kyiv by bombing the country's critical infrastructure, Haines said, quoted by NBC News.

Although China is no longer sending lethal weaponry to Russia to carry out a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it has provided critical technology and equipment for its military machine, he said.

"China's provision of dual-use components and materials to Russia's defense industry is one of several factors that tilted the momentum on the battlefield in Ukraine in Moscow's favor, while speeding the recovery of Russia's military strength after their very costly invasion," Haines said.

It is known that officials from Uncle Sam's country previously said that the Bamboo Curtain country supplies Russia with dual-use drone and rocket technology, satellite imagery and machine equipment needed for its defense production. Dual use refers to items that can be used for either civilian or military purposes.