U.S. spy chiefs say Putin may escalate despite Ukraine setbacks

Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Avril Haines testify before a U.S. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on "Worldwide Threats" at U.S. Capitol building in Washington, U.S. March 8, 2022. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Leaders of U.S. spy agencies said on Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to be deterred and may intensify the assault on Ukraine despite military setbacks and economic hardships resulting from international sanctions.

"Our analysts assess that Putin is unlikely to be deterred by such setbacks and instead may escalate," Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told the annual House of Representatives Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats, where she testified with other intelligence agency leaders.