Sunak reveals plans for extradition after phone call with Zelensky… Support for the first main battle tank in the West
14 Challenger 2 units · 30 AS90 self-propelled howitzers · Operation training provided… Russia protests, “casualty will increase”
British main battle tank Challenger 2 maneuvering in Basra, Iraq, 2003 [로이터 연합뉴스 자료사진. 재판매 및 DB 금지]
(Paris = Yonhap News) Correspondent Hyun Hye-ran = The UK has decided to send 14 main battle tanks ‘Challenger 2’ and additional artillery weapon systems to Ukraine to fight the invasion of Russia.
The British Prime Minister’s Office said on the 14th (local time) that during a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised to strengthen support for Ukraine.
Prime Minister Sunak and President Zelensky agreed on the need to take advantage of the current situation in which Russia’s military strength and morale are deteriorating following Ukraine’s successive victories, the Prime Minister’s Office said.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office released on its website, Britain plans to send 14 Challenger 2s and about 30 AS90 self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine in the coming weeks.
It will also provide training to Ukrainian forces to operate tanks and weapons in the coming days.
“(Prime Minister Sunak) is committed to helping Ukraine win this war,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement as the war in Ukraine entered its second year.
“(Prime Minister Sunak) has made it clear that a long and protracted war will only serve Russia’s purposes,” he added, adding, “In the days or weeks, we will be talking to our allies around the world.”
The move makes Britain the first Western country to send main battle tanks to Ukraine. Until now, Western countries have been hesitant to provide main battle tanks to Ukraine for fear of escalating the war with Russia.
The two heads of state also welcomed Poland’s offer to provide German-made heavily armed tanks, the Leopard 2, saying that the world should speed up military and diplomatic support to Ukraine at this time.
Previously, Polish President Andrzej Duda announced that he would provide 14 Leopard 2 units to Ukraine, and requested approval from Germany, which produced the Leopard 2.
![British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak [로이터 연합뉴스 자료사진. 재판매 및 DB 금지]](https://img5.yna.co.kr/etc/inner/KR/2023/01/14/AKR20230114043354081_02_i_P4.jpg)
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak [로이터 연합뉴스 자료사진. 재판매 및 DB 금지]
Prime Minister Sunak stressed close cooperation with the international community to provide prompt assistance to help Ukraine win this war and secure lasting peace.
President Zelensky thanked Prime Minister Sunak for making a decision that not only strengthens us on the battlefield, but also sends the right signal to our other partners,” Zelensky tweeted.
Russia immediately reacted. The Russian embassy in the UK warned that “bringing tanks into conflict zones would result in more casualties, including civilians”.
“Challenger 2 will do little to help turn the situation around on the battlefield,” the Russian embassy said in a statement to Tass News Agency.
Sky News reported that while the number of tanks sent to Ukraine was modest, British government officials hoped that the decision would motivate Germany and other allies.
This is because the Russian army will intensify its offensive when the winter is over and the weather is clear, so a decision must be made now so that the Ukrainian army can respond by receiving training on how to use tanks.
Prior to Britain, France had promised to send the AMX-10RC light tank to Ukraine, and the US and Germany had promised to send Radley armored vehicles and Mother armored vehicles, respectively, to Ukraine.
Designed for attacking other tanks, the Challenger 2 has been used by the British Army since 1994 and deployed in Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq.
At least 12 people were killed and dozens were injured after Russian missile attacks targeting infrastructure for the first time since the first day of this year were carried out in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv and the fourth city of Dnipro before the announcement by the British Prime Minister’s Office.
Report via KakaoTalk okjebo
<저작권자(c) 연합뉴스,
Unauthorized reproduction – redistribution prohibited>
2023/01/15 11:01 Sent
