A former CIA officer has called on Ukraine’s Western allies to provide more army to the war-torn country in the ongoing conflict, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin is “weak now. “
John Sipher, who worked in the Central Intelligence Agency’s clandestine National Service for 28 years before retiring in 2014, made his plea on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday as a $60 billion U. S. package requested through President Joe Biden remains stalled in the Republican Party. House of Representatives controlled.
“For God’s sake, we have a historic opportunity to defeat an enemy that has been at war with us for years,” he wrote. “Putin is destroying everything that worries us. It’s now. Stop being so shy and act like a superpower. “.
Sipher added: “Give Ukraine what it wants to win!”
Newsweek has reached out to Russia’s Foreign Ministry for emailed comment.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that swift congressional approval of U. S. aid to Ukraine is “vital. “
“We recognize that there are different perspectives in the House of Representatives on how to proceed, but the key is to keep the Ukraine aid factor as a unifying factor,” he said on X.
The Ukrainian leader also said in an interview with CBS News, published Thursday, that Ukraine wants “help now,” warning of an imminent Russian offensive and the option of a confrontation breaking out on NATO soil if Putin is stopped.
Ukraine wants more U. S. Patriot artillery and missile defense systems, he said.
“There are tens of billions left in the United States,” Zelensky said. “Let’s be honest, the money appropriated through Congress, through the administration, in most cases, 80% of that cash, well, at least more than 75% — s in the United States. But production is located there, and cash is in the United States, and taxes in the United States. “
“Yes, we get a huge amount, but we want it,” he added.
U. S. officials have warned that the current ammunition shortage in Ukraine could be “catastrophic” until the end of March.
Two U. S. officials made the assessment in an interview with ABC News that expired last month, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“The scenario starts now and contributes to continue to worsen as the spring and summer pass. So the era we’re entering is a critical era,” a senior U. S. defense official told the network.
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Isabel van Brugen is a Newsweek journalist based in Kuala Lumpur. She focuses on the Russia-Ukraine war. Isabel joined Newsweek in 2021 and in the past worked with media outlets such as the Daily Express, The Times, Harper’s BAZAAR, and Grazia. She holds a Master’s degree in City Press Journalism from the University of London and a BA in Russian-language journalism from Queen Mary, University of London. Languages: English, Russian
You can contact Isabel by emailing i. vanbrugen@newsweek. com or following her on X @isabelvanbrugen