Alexis Guilleux, edited by Nathanael Bentura
US intelligence services are considering the next step in Vladimir Putin’s colonialist policy. After the Donbass, he could aim for other conquests in Europe: Transnistria, a pro-Russian separatist enclave in Moldova is in his sights, the boss of the CIA, Avril Haines, is convinced of this.
What’s going through Vladimir Putin’s head? This is the question that American intelligence is trying to answer by reflecting on the aftermath that the head of the Kremlin could prepare. After the Donbass, he would target other conquests in Europe, such as Transnistria, a pro-Russian separatist enclave in Moldova. CIA boss Avril Haines is convinced of this.
Make Donetsk and Lugansk a buffer zone
“Russia’s short-term goals are to capture the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and turn them into a buffer zone,” April Haines said on Wednesday. According to the head of US intelligence, Vladimir Putin wants to encircle Ukrainian forces west of Donbass from the north and south, consolidate control over the strip of land that connects Crimea to Donbass and occupy the city of Kherson, Ukraine .
“And we also have indications that the Russian army wants to extend this strip of land to Transnistria, although the Russian army is able to achieve most of its objectives in the coming months,” he said. she added. “We believe that they will not be able to extend control over this strip of land, which would include Odessa and Transnistria, without a mobilization of their reserves. And it is increasingly unlikely that the Russian army will be in able to control the two regions and the desired buffer zone in the coming weeks.”