Asked about CBS, CIA chief William Burns says a year after the start of the war in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin is “determined” but “cocky in his ability to exhaust Kiev.”
Faced with the difficulties of his army in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin knows that he cannot win the war for the time being, but is convinced that with attrition he will achieve ultimate victory and refuses to consider any other option, the CIA analyzed CEO William Burns in an interview on Sunday.
“Today, in my opinion, Putin thinks he can’t win right away, but he can’t afford to lose,” the director of US intelligence told CBS.
“He is determined”
“Right now,” said William Burns, “I think Putin is downright determined” but “cocky in his ability to wear Ukraine down.”
And instead of contemplating a way out, the Russian president “is insisting and signing off” on his war, according to Williams Burns, former US ambassador to Moscow.
His November meeting in Turkey with his Russian counterpart Sergey Naryshkin was also “demoralizing,” he said.
He sees “a form of imprudence, excessive pride” in the head of the SVR (external secret service), who met him to warn him against resorting to nuclear weapons and not against negotiations, the starting point of which “will be decided”. . Ukrainians.”