Dramatic speech by the director of the CIA: The picture is terrible, they will lose...

The Ukrainians are "in a difficult situation on the battlefield right now," Burns said during a question-and-answer session at the Bush Center's Leadership Forum in Dallas, CBS News reported.

With additional U.S. assistance, Burns said, Ukrainian forces "can sustain themselves on the battlefield in 2024 and continue to inflict damage with strikes in Crimea ... and against the Black Sea Fleet."

Burns added that "with the boost that would come with military aid, practically and psychologically... the Ukrainians would be fully capable of holding out until 2024 and breaking through Putin's arrogant attitude that time is on his side."

"Without additional help, the picture is much more dire," Burns said.

He pointed out that he believes that there is a very real risk that the Ukrainians could lose on the battlefield by the end of 2024, or at least put Putin in a position where he essentially dictates the terms of a political solution.