In a major reversal, the Biden Administration plans to send advanced M1 Abrams main battle tanks to Ukraine according to U.S. officials. The announcement is set to take place as soon as Wednesday and may spark numerous other countries to also supply tanks to Ukraine. Germany has stressed that supplying tanks to Ukraine must be a joint operation and not solely done by European nations.
The Operation
The AP reports that the U.S. plans to supply around 30 Abrams tanks in the first wave and it would be funded under an upcoming Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative package. The package provides longer-range funding for weapons and equipment to be purchased from commercial vendors. The AP states, “The U.S. announcement is expected in coordination with an announcement by Germany that it will approve Poland’s request to transfer German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, according to one official.”
By not stating an exact time frame of when the tanks will arrive, the U.S. will meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s demand for an American commitment without having to send the tanks immediately.
The History
Over the weekend, Sens. Lindsey Graham met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the matter of sending tanks. Graham released a statement saying:
“The debacle regarding sending tanks to Ukraine must end. It is impossible for Ukraine to expel Russia without tanks. I am hoping Germany and the United States will both send tanks ASAP – opening up other countries’ desire to help Ukraine. The tanks are outcome determinative in expelling Russia from Ukraine.”
The United States has been hesitant to provide its own M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine due to the complex logistics of delivery and the unfamiliarity Ukrainian forces have with the tank. Ukrainian troops would need far less training to operate the Leopards than the Abrams and the Leopards are already located in allies that are close to Ukraine.
WE NEED TO SEND TANKS TO TAIWAN, NOT UKRAINE!!!!!!!!!!!
The corrupt US and Ukraine governments are amazingly corrupt!! What a shocker!!
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The democratic party is a party of funerals.
I loved it when President Trump hd Germany dancing to his tune to start paying more for their own protection. How the worm has turned with Germany telling our fake pResident, Joe Brandon when to jump and how high. FJB!
I thought President was well restrained from getting America into a War that had no threat to America as he was Prodded by colleagues to do so . I was wrong again about Him . President Obama warned America to Never underestimate Joe Bidens ability to mess up Everything he touches . Here we go WW3.
The Democrat party is the Party Of Death
INSANITY AND BANKRUPTING THE US
Joe Biden, Clueless in Chief!
I think it would be many months before Ukrainian troops would be operating Abrams tanks. The US would have to have operators and trainers over there to get them ready. That puts us into direct conflict with the Russians and not a good idea.