The Director of National Intelligence James Clapper talks to Charlie Rose about Russian President Vladimir Putin and what his goals are in Ukraine. In this interview on Monday, March 2, 2015 was also discussed whether or not the U.S. should give arms to help the Ukrainian government fight Russia-backed separatists. The same James Clapper said to the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The Director of National Intelligence of the U.S. underlines that pro-Russian terrorists don’t want to have all Ukraine but only two regions of Luhansk and Donetsk and strategic port Mariupol:
“It is not our assessment that he is bent on capturing or conquering all of Ukraine,” said Mr.Clapper.
“He wants a whole entity composed of the two oblasts (regions) in eastern Ukraine which would include a land bridge to Crimea and perhaps a port in specifically Mariupol.”
As James Clapper said pro-Russian Forces plan to attack on spring:
“We do not believe that an attack on Mariupol is imminent. I believe they will wait until the spring before they attack,” added he.
Besides, the Director of National Intelligence James Clapper thinks that Barack Obama is weighing the idea of arming Ukraine because Washington believes that arming Kyiv would evoke a negative reaction from Putin and the Russians.