Russia Warns U.S. of Potential Vietnam and Afghanistan-like Outcome with Ukraine Aid Decision

The Russian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the U.S. Congress’s decision to allocate $60.8 billion in aid to Ukraine.

According to Reuters on the 21st (local time), Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, vehemently condemned the decision of the U.S. Congress to allocate $60.8 billion in aid to Ukraine. She drew parallels with historical conflicts such as the Vietnam War and the Afghanistan War, emphasizing that such deep involvement in Ukraine could result in outcomes reminiscent of the tumultuous and humiliating failures experienced in those past engagements. Zakharova asserted that Russia would respond unconditionally and firmly to any attempts by the U.S. to intervene in the Ukrainian conflict.

The narrative suggests that akin to historical precedents such as the Vietnam War, which culminated in the ascension of the communist regime after two decades of conflict, and the Afghanistan War, where the Taliban regained control following a decade of U.S. military deployment, the stature of the U.S. military faces considerable erosion, accompanied by significant human losses.

In actuality, the United States incurred significant casualties during the Vietnam War, spanning from 1955 to 1975, losing over 58,000 soldiers and ultimately facing defeat from communist-controlled North Vietnam. Similarly, during the Afghanistan War, from 2001 to 2011, the United States suffered 2,459 fatalities and over 20,000 casualties. However, following the withdrawal of U.S. forces, the Taliban regained control, effectively concluding the conflict.

In recent proceedings, the U.S. House of Representatives convened to approve three legislative measures allocating substantial funds: $60.8 billion to Ukraine, $26 billion to Israel, and $8.1 billion to the Indo-Pacific coalition, with Taiwan as its focal point.

These bills are anticipated to advance to the Senate, where the Democratic Party commands the majority, for deliberation and voting later this week. Media prognostications suggest a high probability of Senate endorsement.

William Burns, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), asserted in recent remarks that Ukraine could face potential defeat against Russia without additional U.S. support.

Maria Zakharova, the official spokesperson, remarked, “While ordinary Ukrainian citizens endure forced slaughter, the U.S. no longer places its strategic bets on Ukraine’s triumph over Russia.” She stated, “It is probable that the U.S. government aims to maintain support until the U.S. elections in November.”

Zakharova also critiqued a provision within the Ukrainian support legislation that grants the U.S. authority to seize assets worth billions of dollars currently under frozen status due to sanctions against Russia, describing it as “tantamount to theft.” She asserted that “the true beneficiaries of the U.S. legislation are American defense companies.”