Testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Monday, Burns said: "The Ukrainians are not running out of courage and tenacity. They're running out of ammunition, and we're running out of time to help them."
He added that, without the proposed USD 60 billion in security assistance for Ukraine, the war-torn country faces a "grim future," with potential significant territorial losses in 2024.
According to Burns, “without that assistance, it is hard to imagine how Ukraine will be able to maintain the extremely hard-fought advances it has made against the Russians, especially given the sustained surge in Russian ammunition production and purchases from North Korea and Iran."
Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin is increasing defense spending in Russia and "reversing his long-standing reluctance to devote a high percentage of GDP to the military as he looks to rebuild," Burns told lawmakers.
He highlighted Ukraine's achievements in deterring Russian forces and warned of broader geopolitical implications, including impacts on US credibility in Taiwan.
The delay in passing this crucial aid undermines Ukraine's ability to negotiate from a position of strength and could embolden China's aggressive postures towards its neighbors and Taiwan, according to Burns.
“If we're seen to be walking away from support for Ukraine, not only is that going to feed doubts amongst our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific; it's going to stoke the ambitions of the Chinese leadership in contingencies ranging from Taiwan to the South China Sea," Burns said at the hearing.
"So that's what I saw on this last visit. That's what I think is at stake for all of us,” he told the Senate Intelligence Committee.
(jh/gs)
Source: PAP, The New York Times
