U.S. weapons key to Ukraine's fight against Russia, CIA Chief warns

If the USA does not supply weapons to Ukraine, the country could lose the war with Russia before the end of 2024. Alternatively, CIA Director William Burns warned that Putin might be able to dictate the terms of any political agreement.

"With the boost that would come from military assistance, both practically and psychologically, I think the Ukrainians are entirely capable of holding their own through 2024. Without supplemental assistance, the picture is a lot more dire," Burns stated in a speech at the George Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas, as reported by CNN.

According to Burns, the risk of Ukraine losing the war without American support is very real.

He didn't detail what a Ukrainian defeat would entail. However, it's inferred to mean Russian control over significant Ukrainian territories and subsequently "freezing" the conflict along the current frontline—a scenario reminiscent of the Russian annexation of Crimea and the occupation of a large part of Donbas in 2014, as per CNN's interpretation.

"The Ukrainians have been outmatched on the battlefield, but it's not for lack of courage or determination. I fear that without further U.S. support, we will witness more tragedies like Avdiivka (a town in the Donetsk region overtaken by aggressors in February) in the future," Burns revealed.

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden endorsed a package of three bill proposals focusing on support for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific, put forward by Republicans in the House of Representatives. He urged both chambers of Congress to expedite the processing of these proposals and promised immediate signature. Washington is set to allocate $60.8 billion to support Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine expressed in a video conference with ambassadors from the United24 platform on April 7th that without the support of the United States, particularly without a congressional decision to provide military support, Ukraine's chances of winning the war or even maintaining its sovereign statehood are slim. This statement was his most alarmist and pessimistic remark since the onset of Russian aggression in February 2022.