The U.Okay. agreed to ship next-generation tanks to Kyiv in a bid “to grab on the second with an acceleration of world navy and diplomatic assist to Ukraine,” Downing Avenue introduced on Saturday.
The choice, which got here following a name between U.Okay. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, put an finish to days of uncertainty on whether or not London ought to provide “game-changing” battle tanks just like the Challenger 2 to the war-stricken nation. It additionally elevated strain on Germany as Chancellor Olaf Scholz weighs whether or not to ship Leopard 2 tanks.
“The Prime Minister outlined the U.Okay.’s ambition to accentuate our assist to Ukraine, together with by means of the supply of Challenger 2 tanks and extra artillery programs,” the federal government mentioned in a assertion.
Ukraine had beforehand requested about 300 tanks — a quantity {that a} Western official had described as “not unreasonable” to create the mass wanted for a second profitable counteroffensive towards Russian invaders.
“The Prime Minister and President Zelenskyy welcomed different worldwide commitments on this vein, together with Poland’s provide to supply an organization of Leopard tanks,” based on the assertion.
Warsaw already has pledged to dispatch 14 Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine “as a part of the constructing of a global coalition,” whereas German Chancellor Olaf Scholz seems to nonetheless be reluctant on whether or not to fulfill Ukraine’s rising pleas for extra weapons.
Sunak’s spokesman mentioned on Wednesday that the U.Okay. was “accelerating” its assist for Ukraine “with the sort of next-generation navy know-how that may assist win this battle.” He mentioned tanks such because the Challenger 2 may very well be a “game-changing functionality.”
Consideration is now targeted on whether or not Germany will comply with ship Leopard 2 tanks. That may paving the best way for different EU international locations to do the identical; because the tanks are German-made, Berlin’s permission is required.
Western protection ministers are due meet in Germany on Friday, when Berlin is anticipated to permit associate international locations like Poland and Finland to ship their German-made Leopards to Ukraine.
