(Dan Tri) – CIA director predicts Ukraine may face a difficult year in the conflict with Russia in 2024.

Director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Bill Burns (Photo: Reuters).

`This year will likely be a difficult year on the battlefield in Ukraine. America’s withdrawal from the conflict at this critical time and cutting off support for Ukraine will be a historic goal,` Director

According to Mr. Burns, Ukraine will face a difficult year, but could make Russia pay a heavy price for the war by attacking deeper behind the lines.

`Ukraine’s challenge is to show Russia that continuing the conflict will pay a high price, not only by making progress on the front lines but also by launching attacks deeper behind.`

The US official’s comments appeared to refer to attacks on territories that Russia controlled or declared control over in Ukraine.

Referring to Russia’s possible threat to use nuclear weapons, Mr. Burns said that `completely eliminating the risks of escalation would be unwise.`

`But it is also unwise to be threatened by them unnecessarily,` the CIA head said.

In a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken this week, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said supporting Ukraine is not charity, but an investment in NATO’s own security.

He also said that to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine, the West needs to increase support for Kiev and send more weapons and ammunition to the country.

The United States and its Western allies are showing signs that they are no longer interested in providing aid to Ukraine as the war of attrition drags on.

Late last year, the US Congress was unable to pass President Joe Biden’s $106 billion budget proposal.

The White House emphasized that in light of Russia’s large-scale attacks on Ukraine, it is especially important that the US Congress supports the White House’s request for additional aid to Kiev.

Some media outlets, citing anonymous sources, said that US President Joe Biden’s administration is adjusting its strategy on Ukraine due to uncertainty about the prospects of aid to Kiev in the near future.

According to the new strategy, Washington wants Ukraine to strengthen its defense to keep the remaining territory and prevent Russian attacks.

On Ukraine’s side, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Kiev has no alternative other than securing stalled US military aid.