image source, EPA
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced his decision to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine after weeks of hesitation and facing international pressure.
After months of hesitation Germany has confirmed that The US will deliver Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine on the same day. which Ukraine hopes will be a game changer on the battlefield.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday January 25 that Germany would send 14 Lepard 2 tanks to Ukraine. And will allow other countries to supply such tanks to Ukraine as well. before addressing the parliament later
But Mr Scholz insisted that Germany would definitely not send ground troops to join this war. The same is true of NATO’s stance not to send troops to participate.
The administration of US President Joe Biden is also expected to announce plans to deliver at least 30 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine.
Russian government spokesman said earlier that Western tanks supplied to Ukraine will be burned just like the previous tanks.
Dmitry Peskov said that the potential of the Ukrainian army was assessed by obtaining these tanks for combat use. beyond reality and called this movement “Failed plan”
But Ukrainian officials insist that Ukraine needs to be heavily armed, and said having enough battle tanks could help the Ukrainian army retake territory from the Russians.
A spokesman for the German government said the decision to send the tanks “On the way to support Ukraine as much as we can. which is already well known.”
Germany will also allow other countries to supply their Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. The rules for exporting weapons require a prior authorization from Germany.
The US and Germany have been facing internal and external pressure for some time to supply their own tanks to Ukraine.
The U.S. government stated that the use of modern Abrams tanks required extensive maintenance and training.
Germany has had months of political debates. Regarding various concerns in the delivery of tanks that It will raise the conflict. and thus directly involved NATO in the war against Russia.
US media reports that an announcement about the delivery of Abrams tanks to Ukraine may be made on Wednesday, January 25 local time. An unnamed official said At least 30 of these vehicles will be delivered.
However, the delivery time is still unclear. And it may take several months for US battle tanks to become available. will be sent to the front line
German officials reportedly insisted that They will agree to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine only if the US does. will also deliver M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine
US Democratic Senator Chris Koons Biden’s ally told Politico (Politico) on Tuesday, Jan. 24, “If Germany continues to say that We will deliver the leopard on the condition that America sent Abrams too. We should send Abrams.”
The UK has previously announced that Challenger 2 tanks will be delivered to Ukraine
Analysis by Jonathan Biel, BBC security correspondent.
Ukraine is also unlikely to get 300 modern battle tanks as they say. You need to get it to win this war.
But if half of the Western nations Sending 14 tanks to each Ukrainian nation would bring Ukraine almost 100 tanks, which might make a difference.
Western tanks including the UK’s Challenger 2 tank. The German Leopard 2 and the US Abrams were both considered It outperforms the prevalent Soviet-era Ukrainian tank T-72 (T-72).
Western tanks will give Ukrainian troops more protection. Movement is faster and accuracy in attack
But modern Western battle tanks not a magic weapon or the one that will turn the situation around by itself Depends on what was delivered to Ukraine along with these tanks.
in the past few weeks Western nations have announced the delivery of more heavy weapons to Ukraine. Armored vehicles, artillery systems and ammunition are the weapons Ukraine needs to push the front towards Russia and reclaim its territory.
If the Ukrainian soldiers were trained and these weapons were delivered in time, It will be an important factor in the advance in this spring. But what is still missing in attack operations is air power
Ukraine has been asking the West for modern fighter jets since the war started. But until now, no nation has sent it.
Allied nations were dissatisfied with their views. Germany has recently been reluctant to supply armored vehicles to Ukraine.
On Tuesday, Jan. 24, Mr. Andrey Yermak, President of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Has called on Western nations to send hundreds of tanks to Ukraine. for use in crushing Russia
“Tanks are one of the elements that will allow Ukraine to bring back the borders of 1991,” he wrote on Telegram.
Anatoly Antonov, the Russian ambassador to Washington, DC, wrote on Telegram that if the US decides to send tanks, it shows that Weapons used in defense are ineffective.
“This will be another flagrant provocation against the Russian Federation.”
