| CIA Director William J. Burns traveled in secret to Ukraine’s capital at the end of last week to brief President Volodymyr Zelensky on his expectations for what Russia is planning militarily in the coming weeks and months, said a U.S. official and other people familiar with the visit. Burns’s travel comes at a critical juncture in the 11-month war, as Russian forces are mounting a massive assault near the eastern city of Bakhmut and the nearby salt mining town of Soledar, forcing Ukraine to weigh its resources there as it prepares a major counteroffensive elsewhere in the country.
The top issue for Zelensky and his senior intelligence officials during the meeting was how long Ukraine could expect U.S. and Western assistance to continue following the Republicans’ takeover of the House and a drop-off in support for Ukraine aid among parts of the U.S. electorate, said people familiar with the meeting. All spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private high-level meeting.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon on Thursday released its latest aid package for Ukraine valued at $2.5 billion. The package has more armored vehicles — including for the first time, Stryker vehicles — and additional air defense missiles as well as thousands of rounds of artillery. The package includes 90 Strykers and 59 Bradleys as well as more munitions for the NASAMS, the medium-range air defense systems the U.S. previously provided Ukraine. In addition, it includes 20,000 rounds of 155 mm artillery.
The announcement comes as defense leaders gather at Ramstein Air Base in Germany today to discuss future military aid to Ukraine, amid ongoing dissent over who will provide the battle tanks that Ukrainian leaders say they desperately need to recapture territory from Russia. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are expected to discuss the latest aid package. Broader hesitation over sending tanks to Ukraine has roiled the coalition of NATO allies, as Germany faces mounting pressure to supply Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv, or at least clear the way for others — such as Poland — to deliver German-made Leopards from their own stock. The U.S. has also declined, at least so far, to provide M1 Abrams tanks, citing the extensive and complex maintenance and logistical challenges with the high-tech vehicle. Washington Post, Reuters, CBS News, CNN, Associated Press, Reuters, New York Times
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