US intelligence chief: Putin is not deterred

US intelligence chief Avril Haines does not expect Russian President Vladimir Putin to be deterred by the effects of international sanctions and setbacks in Ukraine, but may step up the fighting in the country. “Our analysts believe it is unlikely that Putin will be deterred by such setbacks and instead could escalate,” she said during a House hearing on global threats.

CIA chief William Burns expressed the same expectation. “I think Putin is angry and frustrated right now. He will probably redouble his efforts and try to defeat the Ukrainian army without regard for civilian casualties,” Burns said.

The CIA director told lawmakers that between 2,000 and 4,000 Russian soldiers were killed in fighting in Ukraine. In Moscow last week there were talks of about 500 killed soldiers, while Ukraine put it at more than 11,000 on Sunday.