{"id":13529,"date":"2023-01-26T10:20:29","date_gmt":"2023-01-26T08:20:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=13529"},"modified":"2023-02-08T10:41:26","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T08:41:26","slug":"us-to-send-31-abrams-battle-tanks-to-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/us-to-send-31-abrams-battle-tanks-to-ukraine\/","title":{"rendered":"US to send 31 Abrams battle tanks to Ukraine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

U.S. President Joe Biden has announced to send a battalion of 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. The announcement came on January 25, 2023, after Germany confirmed that it would send 14 Leopard 2 tanks and allow its partners to supply the German-made tanks to Ukraine.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the White House official, the U.S. would be sending 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine the equivalent of one Ukrainian battalion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The progress is being seen as the first step of the coordinated efforts from the western allies to address Ukraine\u2019s request for the provision of battle tanks as it prepares for a renewed Russian offensive expected to take place in the upcoming spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some U.S. officials believe that the tanks would not arrive in Ukraine for many months, as the Pentagon is working through the challenges involved in providing the training, equipment, and fuel to operate the 70-ton tracked weapons. However, the announcement is being seen as a hugely symbolic win for Ukraine, after brutal fighting across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the U.S. State Department, President Biden approved the tanks along with a $400 million procurement through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, a fund set aside by Congress to support Ukraine. The whole military assistance package includes 31 Abrams tanks, along with 120 mm rounds and other ammunition, eight tactical recovery vehicles, other support vehicles and equipment, training, maintenance, and sustainment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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U.S. Army Abrams main battle tanks. (Image Credit: Mindaugas Kulbis\/AP)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

“Putin expected Europe and the United States to weaken our resolve. He expected our support for Ukraine to crumble with time. He was wrong,” Biden said in a statement released by the White House. “These tanks are further evidence of our enduring, unflagging commitment to Ukraine and our confidence in the skill of the Ukrainian forces,” he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The White House statement highlighted that President Biden discussed the latest developments of the Ukraine crisis with European allies and agreed to increase support for Kyiv. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that President Biden discussed “our close coordination on support for Ukraine” with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ukraine\u2019s President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the news and called it \u201can important step on the path to victory.\u201d For months, Ukraine has been requesting aid in the war effort against Russia, saying that they \u201cneed weapons\u201d and \u201ccannot go only on motivation\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thank you @POTUS<\/a> for another powerful decision to provide Abrams to \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6. Grateful to \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 people for leadership support! It's an important step on the path to victory. Today the free world is united as never before for a common goal \u2013 liberation of \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6. We're moving forward<\/p>— \u0412\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0434\u0438\u043c\u0438\u0440 \u0417\u0435\u043b\u0435\u043d\u0441\u044c\u043a\u0438\u0439 (@ZelenskyyUa) January 25, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>