The Ukrainians are not running out of courage and tenacity. They’re running out of ammunition, William J. Burns, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), said on Monday at a U.S. Senate hearing.
Burns warned that if Congress does not pass an aid package for Ukraine, it will be a historic mistake.
Speaking before the Senate Intelligence Committee on the new global threats report released by the service, the CIA chief painted a grim picture of the situation for Ukrainians if Congress does not pass a package of measures to help Ukraine.
The package was passed by the Senate, and almost certainly the same would have happened in the House of Representatives, but so far House Speaker Mike Johnson has not put it to a vote.
Speaking before the Senate Intelligence Committee on the new global threats report released by the service, the CIA chief painted a grim picture of the situation for Ukrainians if Congress does not pass a package of measures to help Ukraine.
The package was passed by the Senate, and almost certainly the same would have happened in the House of Representatives, but so far House Speaker Mike Johnson has not put it to a vote.
Burns said the situation is “at a crossroads,” and Congress has a choice as to which path it will take. He referred to Ukraine's loss of Avdiivka in the Donbass.
“They fought as long as they could, but they ran out of ammunition, and the Russians just kept coming. “Without supplemental assistance in 2024, you’re going to see more Avdiivkas. And that, it seems to me, would be a massive and historic mistake for the United States,” said Burns, who recently returned from a visit to Ukraine.
“Ukraine could sustain itself as a strong, sovereign, independent country, anchor itself in Western institutions, and have the space and the security to recover from this terrible aggression and leave Russia to deal with the long-term consequences of Putin’s brutal and foolish invasion,” Burns emphasized.
Burns also pointed out that leaving Ukraine will be noticed in China, and the consequences will be felt throughout the Indo-Pacific.
“They fought as long as they could, but they ran out of ammunition, and the Russians just kept coming. “Without supplemental assistance in 2024, you’re going to see more Avdiivkas. And that, it seems to me, would be a massive and historic mistake for the United States,” said Burns, who recently returned from a visit to Ukraine.
“Ukraine could sustain itself as a strong, sovereign, independent country, anchor itself in Western institutions, and have the space and the security to recover from this terrible aggression and leave Russia to deal with the long-term consequences of Putin’s brutal and foolish invasion,” Burns emphasized.
Burns also pointed out that leaving Ukraine will be noticed in China, and the consequences will be felt throughout the Indo-Pacific.
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