Ukraine-Russia war 'unlikely to end anytime soon': US intelligence chief

WASHINGTON

The ongoing Ukraine-Russia war is "unlikely to end anytime soon," a US intelligence chief said on Thursday.

"By targeting critical infrastructure Moscow aims to create logistical hurdles that impede Ukraine's ability to move forces and supplies to the front, slow Ukrainian defense production and build pressure for Kyiv," said Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines during a Senate hearing on "worldwide threats".

"To consider pathways out of the war, including through negotiations and these aggressive tactics are likely to continue and the war is unlikely to end anytime soon," she said.

Haines, along with Defense Intelligence Agency Air Force Lt. Gen. Jeffrey A. Kruse testified about worldwide threats before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Russia is making "incremental progress" on the battlefield with the potential for tactical breakthroughs along the front lines in areas such as Donetsk and Kharkiv, Haines said.

"(Russian President Vladimir) Putin is increasingly aggressive tactics against Ukraine, such as the strikes on Ukraine's electricity infrastructure, are intended to impress on Ukraine that continuing to fight will only increase the damage to Ukraine and offer no plausible path to victory," she added.

Putin "has tried to capitalize" on global events, such as the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and Hamas to divide the US from its allies, Haines claimed.