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Russia’s war in Ukraine is “slowing down” and the Ukrainian military may have brighter prospects in the months ahead, the US intelligence chief said.
Avril Haines referred to past allegations that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s advisers might protect him from bad news about developments in the war, saying he was “more and more Learn about the challenges the military faces in Russia.”
“But we still don’t know if he fully understands the magnitude of the challenge they face at this stage,” the director of national intelligence said Saturday at the Reagan Defense Forum in Simi Valley, California.
Looking ahead, Ms Haynes said, “We’ve seen a slowdown in the pace of the conflict, honestly,” and her team expects both sides to look to retool, resupply and rebuild for a potential Ukrainian counteroffensive in the spring.
“But really, we have a fair amount of skepticism that the Russians are really ready to do that,” she said. “During that time frame, I was more optimistic about the Ukrainians.”
In recent weeks, Russia’s military focus has been on hitting Ukrainian infrastructure and launching an offensive near the eastern town of Bakhmut, while shelling sites in the city of Kherson, which Ukrainian forces liberated last month after eight months of Russian occupation Kherson city.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky slammed Western efforts to crack down on Russia’s vital oil industry, a major source of funding for Putin’s war machine, in an evening speech on Saturday, saying they imposed a $60-a-barrel price cap on Russian oil imports is not enough.
“It’s not a serious decision to put such a limit on Russian prices, it’s quite comfortable for the budget of a terrorist state,” Mr Zelensky said, referring to Russia.
A level of $60 a barrel would still bring in $100bn (£81bn) a year for Russia, he said.
“This money will not only be used for war, and it will not only be used for further Russian support of other terrorist regimes and organizations. This money will be used to further destabilize countries that are now trying to avoid serious decisions,” Zelens said. Mr. Key said.
Australia, Britain, Canada, Japan, the United States and the European Union agreed on Friday to cap the price they pay for Russian oil at $60 a barrel. The restrictions will come into effect on Monday, at the same time that the European Union will impose an embargo on Russian seaborne oil.
Russian authorities rejected the price cap and on Saturday threatened to stop supplies to countries that recognized it.
The EU’s agreement with the G7 and other groups on oil price caps would significantly reduce Russia’s revenues.
It will help us stabilize global energy prices, benefiting emerging economies around the world. pic.twitter.com/3WmIalIe5y
— Ursula Vonderleyen (@vonderleyen) December 2, 2022
Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland visited Ukrainian aid operations on Saturday to provide support for Ukrainian internally displaced people, in yet another sign of Western support for Ukraine, and she also visited Ukrainian senior official.
She and children from regions northeast of Kharkov, south of Kherson and east of Donetsk have assembled dolls out of the blue and yellow wool of the Ukrainian flag.
“This is psychological support for them at an absolutely critical time,” Ms Newland said.
“As President Putin knows best, this war can be stopped today, and if he chooses to stop and withdraw troops, then negotiations can begin,” she added.
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