According to media sources, the armor decision is part of the agreement with Germany. Germany has also decided to send Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine, German media reported on Tuesday.
The United States is about to send M1 Abrams battle tanks to Ukraine, they say, for example news channel CNN (you will switch to another service) and New York Times newspaper (you will switch to another service) citing his official sources. Be the first to report on the armor decision Wall Street Journal (you are moving to another service).
Already a German newspaper Der Spiegel (switch to another service) said based on his sources that Germany is sending Leopard main battle tanks to Ukraine.
The White House is expected to announce the armor deliveries as early as Wednesday.
According to two official sources, the United States could send about 30 tanks. Another of the sources says that the United States also plans to send a small number of vehicles for tank maintenance and towing.
The actual delivery schedule for the tanks is still unclear, and training the troops to use the tanks effectively may take several months, official sources say, according to CNN.
Germany’s decision also affects Finland’s ability to supply armor
The Wall Street Journal reports based on its own sources that the sending of Abrams tanks would be part of a diplomatic agreement between the United States and Germany.
Ukraine has particularly sought German Leopard 2 main battle tanks, but Germany has hesitated to send them, fearing that heavy assault weapons would expand the war outside of Ukraine.
On Thursday evening, however, Der Spiegel reported that the Chancellor Olaf Scholz would have ended up in the position of armor supplies. Germany is said to be sending about a company’s worth of tanks, i.e. about 14 pieces.
According to the newspaper’s sources, Germany would also allow other countries, such as Poland, to send tanks to Ukraine.
Poland has previously planned to send to Ukraine and establish an alliance that would, among other things, service tanks.
Finland also has Leopard battle tanks. Finland has already previously expressed its willingness to send its own Leopards, if Germany gives its approval.
Read more about the topic:
Ukrainian President Zelenskyi: Ukraine needs real decisions on tanks
The West offers Ukraine a variety of tanks, but Ukraine wants Leopards – an expert assesses why
Correspondent’s analysis: Germany’s Scholz fears sending Leopards to Ukraine, but pressure is now growing among their own