US will ship 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine
President Joe Biden mentioned Wednesday his administration will ship 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, though the heavy armored weaponry Kyiv has hunted for months will not arrive anytime quickly.
As not too long ago as final week, the Biden administration mentioned it could not ship the M1 Abrams tanks, citing logistical and upkeep challenges with the advanced machines. As an alternative, U.S. officers urged Germany to ship German-made Leopard 2 tanks and permit different international locations to take action.
Ukraine wants “to have the ability to counter Russia’s evolving techniques and technique on the battlefield within the very close to time period,” Biden mentioned as he introduced the choice from the White Home Wednesday. “They should enhance their capability to maneuver on open terrain. And so they want a permanent functionality to discourage and defend towards Russian aggression over the long run.”
Senior administration officers informed reporters that the White Home had determined to ship the Abrams tanks following “intensified” conversations with Germany and different allies over the previous few weeks. Germany confirmed Wednesday it could greenlight the Leopard 2 tanks, which will be supplied rapidly and are well-suited to the battlefield.
“Right now’s announcement actually was a product of the diplomatic conversations and a part of our common and ongoing closed consultations with allies and companions,” one official mentioned.
