Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns urges U.S. lawmakers to pass an additional program to provide aid for Ukraine's military needs

This was reported by Espresso.

Politico writes.

Speaking at an event at the George W. Bush Presidential Center on Thursday, April 18, he said that if aid for Ukraine is not approved now, Kyiv could lose the war by the end of the year

"With the boost that military aid will provide, both practically and psychologically, Ukrainians are well positioned to hold out until 2024 and destroy putin's arrogant view that time is on his side", Burns said.

He immediately warned that if the bill does not pass through Congress, "the picture will be much more dire".

"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 can essentially dictate the terms of a political settlement", Burns said.

He emphasized that supporting Ukraine now is about more than just the war with russia. It is also about China and its ambitions, as well as US allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region

"It's really a question of whether our adversaries understand our credibility and resolve, and whether our allies and partners understand that as well", Burns said.

• On April 12, it was reported that Mike Johnson was negotiating with the White House on Republican amendments to the package of aid to Ukraine and Israel.

• On April 15, 91 congressmen from both parties signed a letter in the US House of Representatives calling on Speaker Mike Johnson to bring the Senate-passed Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan aid bill to the floor for an "immediate vote".

• House Speaker Mike Johnson has proposed dividing the international aid bill into 4 separate parts, including aid to Ukraine. Biden's administration is ready to consider the initiative.

• Representatives of the US House Intelligence Committee, after a secret meeting on the situation in Ukraine on April 16, called on Congress to immediately vote for assistance to Kyiv, as the situation is critical.

• House Speaker Mike Johnson promised to bring a bill containing aid to Ukraine to a vote on Saturday, April 20. US President Joe Biden promised to sign it immediately.