'Putin cornered, might go nuclear': Ex-CIA official on Russia-Ukraine war

Ex-Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) official Robert Baer believes Russian President Vladimir Putin is cornered in the Ukraine war, and he might go nuclear as Ukraine retakes more regions.

As Russians attempt to flee the country after the military call-up by President Vladimir Putin to assist in the Ukraine war, former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer and US security analyst Robert Baer believes Putin is cornered and the chances of him de-escalating the war are close to zero.

In an interview with CNN, Rober Baer said, "I think the chances of de-escalating are close to zero. He [Vladimir Putin] simply cannot give up so much ground, be seen to be losing, and continue as the leader of Russia. He is a strong man. He has portrayed himself for the last 20 years. He doesn't give into dissent. He is cornered. He is completely cornered. I just cannot see him coming to the negotiating table and agreeing to leave Donbas or Luhansk. I don't see him caving in."

READ | US warns of catastrophic consequences if Russia uses nuclear weapons in Ukraine

According to the US official, the chances of Putin nuking Ukraine are going up daily as Ukraine retook regions in northeastern Ukraine in a lightning blitz two weeks ago.

"Chances of him using tactical nuclear weapons are going up by the day. Russians, I know, are convinced he is going nuclear. I don't know how well connected they are, but this threat -- It was a threat initially, but the more trouble he is in, the more likely he is going to use nuclear weapons," the CIA officer added.

READ | Don't use conditioner on your hair in event of nuclear war. Here's why

Things are getting out of hand, back at home, for Putin, as flights to countries like Armenia, Georgia, Turkey, and Dubai—which are not affected by the sanctions imposed by the West—sold out in a blink of an eye. Citizens are fleeing Russia, claiming the "war has come home" after the partial mobilisation ordered by Putin.