CIA director William Burns just lately traveled to Kyiv to satisfy with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and senior intelligence officers, a U.S. official confirmed to CBS News.
Burns “reinforced our continued support for Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression,” the official, talking on situation of anonymity, stated.
The Washington Post first reported the key journey. The CIA doesn’t touch upon the director’s schedule or travels.
The assembly comes as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nears the one-year mark and Ukrainian leaders renew appeals for Western allies to ship fashionable battle tanks and different heavy weapons. Ukrainian forces are anticipated to launch a significant spring counteroffensive towards Russian forces in japanese Ukraine, the place the 2 international locations are engaged in a brutal land struggle.
A profession diplomat who beforehand served as ambassador to Russia, Burns has been dispatched earlier than by the Biden administration to share Western intelligence insights with Ukrainian counterparts. Before the beginning of the struggle, Burns additionally traveled to Moscow to warn Russian president Vladimir Putin towards mounting an assault.
In a digital look on the annual World Economic Forum this week, Zelenskyy urged Western allies to ship his navy weapons sooner.
“Tragedies are outpacing life,” he stated.
Some U.S. Republicans — who now management the House — have issued statements skeptical of continued funding for Ukraine. Before the midterm elections, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy stated that the House wouldn’t signal a “blank check for Ukraine,” signaling that situations might quickly be positioned on funding.
On Thursday, the U.S. dedicated one other $2.5 billion in support to Ukraine, together with extra armored autos, air protection missiles and hundreds of rounds of artillery, in accordance with a listing launched by the Pentagon. The bundle doesn’t embody tanks.
Since the start of the Biden administration, the U.S. has dedicated greater than $27.5 billion in support to Ukraine, in accordance with the State Department.
“Russia alone could end this war today,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated in a press release. “Until it does so, we will stand United with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
David Martin and Eleanor Watson contributed reporting.