Director of National Intelligence Avril Haynes told the US Congress that the war in Ukraine has become “a war of attrition in which neither side has a definitive military advantage”, but said that Russian President Vladimir Putin could prolong the war, possibly for years, because it the best way to protect your strategic interests, reports CNN.

“We do not foresee the Russian military recovering enough this year to make major territorial gains, but Putin is likely counting on time working in his favor and that a continuation of the war, including potential pauses in hostilities, may be best by. at the end of the day, it remains to secure Russia’s strategic interests in Ukraine, even if it takes years,” Haynes said.

The U.S. intelligence community believes that Russia “probably does not want direct military conflict with U.S. and NATO forces, but there is potential for that to happen,” according to the intelligence community’s annual threat assessment report.

“So far, Russian leaders have avoided actions that would spread the conflict in Ukraine beyond the borders of Ukraine, but the risk of escalation remains significant,” the report says.

Haynes and other senior intelligence officials — CIA Director William Burns, FBI Director Chris Wray, US Intelligence Director Lt. Gen. Scott Bearer and National Security Agency Director Gen. Paul Nakason — testified before the special committee. Senate briefing on Wednesday’s outdoor hearing on global threats.

Due to losses in Ukraine, Moscow “increased its dependence on nuclear weapons.”

At the same time, as Russia suffers “significant damage” from the war in Ukraine, Moscow will become more dependent on its nuclear, cyber and space capabilities, according to a report by US intelligence agencies.

Heavy losses on the battlefield in Ukraine have “deteriorated Moscow’s conventional land and air capabilities and increased its dependence on nuclear weapons,” according to a report by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

“While its cyber activity around the war has been below the pace and impact we expected, Russia will remain a major cyber threat as it improves and deploys its espionage, influence and attack capabilities,” the report said.