Pentagon Says, Ukraine Has Morale and Leadership to Beat Russia

U.S. troops will start training Ukrainians on the M1A1 Abrams battle tanks next month, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports citing Pentagon leaders.

"I am confident that this equipment and the training that is accompanying it will put Ukraine’s forces in a position to continue to succeed on the battlefield," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told a press briefing on Friday following the 11th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which is made up of about 50 allies supporting the nation in its fight against Russia.

The U.S. is sending 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, which will first land in the German town of Grafenwöhr, where about 250 Ukrainians will embark on a 10-week training course with the heavy combat vehicles.

At the press briefing, Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley reminded that more than a year after Putin launched his war of choice, Ukraine "continues to fight, and allies and partners continue to support and stand behind the nation."

Milley added that Pytun "was wrong" when he thought he could fracture NATO, as he launched an unprovoked war of aggression with hundreds of thousands of Russian forces crossing the border on multiple avenues of approach.

While Russian morale is poor and their discipline is eroding, Ukraine's spirit "remains unbroken," he continued. "There are now 31 members of NATO, and NATO is even stronger than ever...

"The people of Ukraine are emboldened, and NATO has never been stronger," he concluded.

Alex Raufoglu