The United States is warning Russian President, Vladimir Putin, is preparing for a long war in Ukraine.
Director of National Intelligence, Avril Haines, tells a Senate hearing the next few months could see Russian actions escalate and become more unpredictable.
She warns Russia could seek a land bridge to the breakaway Moldovan territory of Transnistria and says it’s likely President Putin will seek to impose martial law in Russia.
Haines says President Putin is counting on the resolve of the United States and of Ukraine’s European allies to weaken over time.
However, she thinks the Kremlin will only authorise the use of nuclear weapons if President Putin perceives an “existential threat” to Russia.
Meanwhile, Russia will not participate in Thursday’s special session of the UN Human Rights Council on Ukraine, its foreign ministry said today.
The Council announced on Monday that it would hold a special session at Kyiv’s request to examine “the deteriorating human rights situation in Ukraine stemming from the Russian aggression”.
However, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said that “the Russian delegation will not legitimise with its presence this new political show organised under the guise of an extraordinary session”.
She said Russia’s arguments and explanations on the “true objectives of this special military operation and the real situation on the ground have been completely ignored”.
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