The United Kingdom announces this Saturday January 14 that it will supply Ukraine with Challenger 2 tanks, becoming the first country to send Western-built heavy tanks to help kyiv against the Russian invasion.
In an interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak underlined “ the UK’s willingness to step up its support to Ukraine, including by providing additional Challenger 2 tanks and artillery systems “, said Downing Street in a press release. Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the UK on Twitter for making decisions that “ not only will strengthen us in the battlefield, but also send the right signal to other partners “.
Always strong support of the UK is now impenetrable and ready for challenges. In a conversation with the Prime Minister, @RishiSunakI thanked for the decisions that will not only strengthen us on the battlefield, but also send the right signal to other partners.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 14, 2023
The British government does not specify how many tanks it intends to send to kyiv, but several British media mention the number of 12 Challenger 2: four immediately and eight others in the short term.
The British and Ukrainian leaders stressed during their conversation the “ need to enjoy of the recent Ukrainian victories which have pushed back the Russian troops “. Since the start of the Russian invasion almost a year ago, kyiv’s European allies have already delivered nearly 300 modernized Soviet tanks, but never yet Western-built heavy tanks, despite repeated requests from the Ukraine.
Other armored shipments announced by Westerners
The British announcement comes after Poland said it was ready on Wednesday to provide 14 Leopard 2, German-designed heavy tanks considered to be among the most successful in the world, an announcement hailed on Saturday by Rishi Sunak and Volodymyr Zelensky. Last week, France, Germany and the United States promised thedispatch of armored vehicles carrying infantry or reconnaissance tanks – 40 German Marders, 50 American Bradleys and French AMX-10 RC.
Further announcements could come on January 20, at the next meeting of Ukraine’s allies in Ramstein, Germany.
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