CIA Director warns Ukraine could lose to Russia this year without additional military aid from the US.

“If provided with substantial military support and encouraged in spirit, I believe Ukraine could hold out through 2024. But without further assistance, the situation will deteriorate significantly,” CIA Director William Burns said at an event at the George W. Bush Center on April 18.

Burns cautioned that Ukraine faces the risk of defeat on the battlefield this year or could be pushed by Russia into accepting unfavorable conditions to move towards a political solution to the conflict.

To illustrate the ammunition shortage faced by Ukrainian forces, the CIA Director noted that two Ukrainian brigades, comprising over 2,000 soldiers, are only receiving 15 artillery shells and 42 mortar rounds per day.

The CIA leader’s warning comes as the U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on a $60 billion aid package for Ukraine on April 19. This aid package has been delayed for several months by many Republican lawmakers who support former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Despite being out of office, Trump still maintains influence within the Republican Party and is the party’s presidential nominee for the November election. The former U.S. president has repeatedly called for blocking additional aid to Ukraine and argued that Europe should provide more support to Ukraine because Kiev’s security is more important to these countries than to the U.S.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has also warned that his country will lose in the conflict with Russia unless it receives additional military support.

The U.S. remains the largest provider of military aid to Ukraine, with tens of billions of dollars in security assistance and a continuous commitment to support Kiev as long as necessary. However, opposition from Republican lawmakers following a hardline approach has raised doubts about the U.S.’s ability to maintain this support for Ukraine.