CIA Director William Burns made a clandestine journey to Ukraine final week to satisfy with the nation’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, and transient him on Russia’s anticipated subsequent steps in its invasion, a US official advised Reuters Thursday.
“Director Burns traveled to Kyiv, the place he met with Ukrainian intelligence counterparts in addition to President Zelensky and bolstered our continued assist for Ukraine and its protection towards Russian aggression,” stated the official, talking on situation of anonymity.
The official declined to say when the key rendezvous passed off, however the Washington Publish, which first reported the assembly, stated it occurred on the finish of final week.
Along with discussing Burns’ expectations for Russia’s upcoming navy plans, the paper stated, the CIA chief additionally warned the Ukrainian chief that sooner or later US help could be more durable to come back by.
Zelensky and his senior intelligence officers mentioned how lengthy Ukraine might anticipate US and Western help to proceed after Republicans received a slender Home majority within the November midterm elections, the Washington Publish reported.
Present Home Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has warned that Republicans is not going to write a “clean test” for Ukraine now that they management the decrease chamber of Congress.
Ukraine’s chief and his aides got here away from the assembly with the impression that US assist for Kyiv remained sturdy, the newspaper stated.
Burns has repeatedly briefed Zelensky since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, passing on intelligence in regards to the Kremlin’s struggle plans and intentions.
The CIA director advised “The PBS NewsHour” final month that company analysts predicted “a decreased tempo and preventing between the 2 militaries as winter units in.”
“I don’t underestimate for a second the burdens, the challenges, that this struggle poses for Ukrainians before everything, however for all of us who assist Ukraine,” stated Burns, a former US ambassador to Moscow. “However strategically, I believe, in some ways, you understand, Putin’s struggle has up to now been a failure for Russia.”
The Biden administration introduced Thursday a brand new bundle of navy help for Ukraine valued at as much as $2.5 billion, together with lots of of armored autos and assist for Ukraine’s air protection.
Throughout his journey to Washington in December, Zelensky advised Congress that help to Ukraine is an funding in democracy, not charity, whereas urgent for continued assist.
With Publish wires
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