Vladimir Putin smiles.
Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2014.
  • CIA chief William Burns said the Ukraine war is entering a "critical" phase in the next six months.
  • Burns said it will be crucial for Ukraine to puncture "Putin's hubris" on the battlefield. 
  • Russia is expected to launch a major offensive in the near future.

CIA Director William Burns on Thursday warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin is "betting right now that he can make time work for him" and "grind down Ukrainians" as the West's support for Ukraine fades. 

The CIA assesses that the next six months of the war in Ukraine will be "critical," Burns, a former US ambassador to Russia who makes frequent trips to Kyiv, said during an event at Georgetown University.