Steve Hall, the former head of the CIA’s operations in Russia, says President Vladimir Putin was right to predict that the United States would lose “resoluteness” and stop supporting Ukraine, Business Insider reports.

Vladimir Putin with Sadir Japarov, to his right, at the celebration of “Victory Day” in World War IIPhoto: Ramil Sitdikov / Sputnik / Profimedia Images

“It’s been a very good few weeks for Vladimir Putin. I think we see that in his behavior and in what he’s done and said,” Hall told CNN, adding that the Kremlin leader can now tell those in his inner circle who were skeptical of his plan to of Ukraine that he was right.

“At first he was saying, ‘Look, in the long run, if we resist the West, and especially the US, we’re going to lose focus. They will lose their resolve. They will one way or another stop supporting Ukraine, just be patient,” said the former head of the CIA about Putin’s mentality.

“Now, two years later, he can say, ‘Look, patience pays off,'” added Steve Hall. He said that now the West must show Putin that he was actually wrong.

His comments came as the latest military aid package for Ukraine remains deadlocked in the House of Representatives in Washington, where Speaker Mike Johnson, known for his opposition to aid to Ukraine, is refusing to hold a vote on it.

Aid to Ukraine became the topic of the election campaign in the USA

The US Senate approved the package, which includes $60 billion for Ukraine, on February 13 after three months of delays and after it initially failed on a vote despite being negotiated by a bipartisan team of senators.

President Joe Biden and senior members of his administration have repeatedly warned that the delays are helping President Vladimir Putin and his war machine, but as the US enters the election campaign, many Republican lawmakers have made freezing aid to Ukraine a campaign issue.

In comments dated Feb. 17, a day before Russian military forces announced a full occupation of the city of Avdiyivka in Donetsk Oblast, Biden called Congress’ continued block on military aid “absurd” and “unethical.”

The National Security Council of the White House said the same day that the retreat of Ukraine and the fall of this city, which the Russian army has been attacking since last October, is proof of the “cost of inaction” of the US Congress.

For several months, Ukraine had hoped for a positive vote on this crucial aid approved by the Biden administration, but this was prevented by Republican opposition in Congress under the influence of Donald Trump.

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