CIA Director William Burns warns that Ukraine is on the verge of losing its war against Russia by the end of the year if Congress fails to approve the supplemental budget to aid Kyiv’s war efforts.
In an event at the George W. Bush Presidential Center, Burns remarked that the US is running out of time.
“There is a very real risk that the Ukrainians could lose on the battlefield by the end of 2024, or at least put Putin in a position where he could essentially dictate the terms of a political settlement,” Burns sounded the alarm.
The CIA director further said that the Ukrainian forces were running out of ammunition.
He also described that during Ukraine’s withdrawal from Avdiivka in February, Ukrainian brigades could only fire 15 artillery rounds and 42 mortal shells per day.
“They were overwhelmed,” Burns lamented while continuing to paint a future with more “surrenders” to Russia.
He argued, “With the boost that would come from military assistance‚ both practically and psychologically, Ukrainians are entirely capable of holding their own through 2024, and puncturing Putin’s arrogant view that time is on his side.”
Resorting to fearmongering, the CIA director further quipped that the security of the European region and US allies in the Indo-Pacific is at stake.
Burns added: “Without supplemental assistance, this picture is a lot more dire, and there is a very real risk that the Ukrainians could lose on the battlefield by the end of 2024. Or at least put Putin in a position where he could essentially dictate the terms of a political settlement.”
The CIA director’s statement followed the announcement of House Speaker Mike Johnson’s proposed foreign aid package, which still awaits approval on the floor.
Johnson was under fire after pushing separate bills on foreign aid with no border provisions.
The House Speaker intends to push the four bills into one procedural rule, while concerns about border security will be considered separately.
According to Rep. Ralph Norman (R-South Carolina), this arrangement was doomed and was “set up to fail.”
“With Ukraine funding in there, then it’s got a shot,” Norman added. “The thing [Democrats] want is Ukraine.”
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) said he would vote against the bill because “the border vote in this package is a watered-down, dangerous cover vote.”
But Johnson continued to push for the bills to be moved to the floor, which triggered opponents to sponsor a motion to vacate the chair. Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) moved to oust Johnson and blasted him for betraying the conference as he pushed for Ukraine aid without border provisions, exactly how the Democrats wanted it.
The House of Representatives will vote on four foreign aid bills on Saturday, with $60.8 billion in military aid allocated to Ukraine.
With the ongoing resistance from the House Republicans, Johnson relies on Democratic votes to get the bills to the floor and pass the package this week.
