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Politics

Top US Spy Sees ‘Grinding Struggle’ Ahead for Russia in Ukraine

  • Avril Haines cites a long conflict as the likeliest scenario
  • Says action by US companies to ‘self sanction’ had big impact
Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines

Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines

Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg

America’s top spy said she sees a “grinding struggle” ahead for Russia in Ukraine, with President Vladimir Putin’s military able to make incremental gains but no significant breakthrough.

Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines presented this as the most likely of three scenarios the US intelligence community is forecasting in an appearance Wednesday at an annual conference of the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security in Washington.