Photo Credit: CNN
The US intelligence community has released its annual threat assessment report, which warns of the potential for a military conflict between Russia and the US and NATO forces. (CNN)
Photo Credit: NBC
However, the report notes that Russia probably does not want direct military conflict with the US and NATO and also mentioned that Russian leaders have avoided actions that would expand the conflict beyond Ukraine’s borders.
“Russian leaders thus far have avoided taking actions that would broaden the Ukraine conflict beyond Ukraine’s borders, but the risk for escalation remains significant,” the report said.
The report, which was read by the Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines to Congress, also states that the Russian military is unlikely to recover enough this year to make major territorial gains.
However, President Vladimir Putin may prolong the conflict to eventually secure Russia’s strategic interests in Ukraine.
“We do not foresee the Russian military recovering enough this year to make major territorial gains, but Putin most likely calculates the time works in his favor, and that prolonging the war including with potential pauses in the fighting may be his best remaining pathway to eventually securing Russia’s strategic interests in Ukraine, even if it takes years, ” Haines said.
The report highlights the risks of escalation in the ongoing Ukraine conflict, which could result in a direct military confrontation between Russia and the US and NATO forces.
The US and its NATO allies have been providing military support to Ukraine since the war began over a year ago, which has helped them to curb the threats of the Russians and even recovered some lost territories.
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