[우크라 침공] US intelligence officials say Putin will push further regardless of civilian thought

Although China is shaken by Western sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, China’s determination to strengthen its control over Taiwan should not be underestimated, a senior US intelligence official said.

CIA Director William Burns, at the House Intelligence Committee’s annual hearing on the 8th (local time), was asked if he thought there was room for a productive dialogue between the US and China over the Taiwan issue after the Russian invasion. ‘ he replied.

“I will not underestimate the decisions of Chinese President Xi Jinping and his leadership on the Taiwan issue,” Burns said. I think,” he said.

“(This) will have an impact on China’s arithmetic in the Taiwan issue,” he added.

China has made clear its position to expand its influence over Taiwan by advocating ‘one China’, and has even mentioned the possibility of mobilizing force.

In particular, since the Biden administration took office, military tensions over Taiwan have increased, raising the possibility of a Chinese invasion.

DNI Director Abril Haines said China and Russia have close political, economic and security relations, but they have limitations.

“[Taiwan and Ukraine]are two completely different issues,” said Scott Barrier, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).

U.S. intelligence officials predicted that Russia did not anticipate strong resistance from Ukraine in relation to the Ukrainian war, and that there is a possibility of increasing the intensity of the attack accordingly.

So far, between 2,000 and 4,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in the attacks and Russia said it felt the effects of the sanctions.

He said the humanitarian situation in Ukraine would worsen further, including the possibility that the capital, Kyiv, could stop drinking water and food supplies within two weeks.

Haines said Russia underestimated Ukraine’s resistance and said Russia’s military operations were plagued with difficulties, including poor planning and low morale.

“Our analysts estimate that Putin is unlikely to be deterred by this kind of resistance, but rather will escalate,” Haines said.

It was “very unusual” for Russia to strengthen its nuclear posture in response to Western sanctions, but said, “We are not observing a change in Russia’s nuclear posture that is different from what it was before the escalation of tensions.” hinted

CIA Director William Burns predicted that the next few weeks would be “ugly” in Ukraine.

“Putin is angry and frustrated and will double down to defeat the Ukrainian army regardless of civilian thought,” he said.

Regarding reports that Russia is cutting off drinking water in Kiiu, Barrier predicted that “if supplies stop, it will become desperate within 10 days to 2 weeks.”

He said an estimate of 2,000 to 4,000 Russian soldiers would have been killed.

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