The leaders of America’s intelligence agencies testified Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin may intensify his military attack on Ukraine in the coming weeks but he faces the prospect of a long-running insurgency there.
The officials said Putin badly overestimated both his ability to subdue Ukraine by force and the strength of the world’s reaction. His response going forward is likely to be a redoubling of his military offensive and more casualties, they told the House Intelligence Committee.
The officials also said Putin’s nuclear threats against the United States and NATO should be taken seriously and would increase if Russian and NATO forces entered direct conflict.
