U.S. Set To Send Abrams Tanks To Ukraine

The Biden administration is expected to announce a package involving M1 Abrams tanks to Kyiv through Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, a move that is aimed at expediting Germany's decision to approve the export of Leopard tanks, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

More than a dozen countries have already agreed to supply Ukraine with around 100 Leopard 2 tanks if Berlin gives its consent. On Tuesday, shortly after news broke of the possible U.S. intention of sending around 30 Abrams tanks., Germany announced that its Leopards were heading to Ukraine.

The transfer of U.S. and German tanks might mark a major development in the West’s effort to help Ukraine defend itself against a new Russian offensive.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken met on Tuesday with representatives of the G-7 and partner countries to discuss Russian destruction of Ukraine’s electrical grid, heating, water and other energy sources.

They did not publicly mention tanks, and State Department spokesman Ned Price declined to preview any possible announcement on Abrams. "We’re always discussing these issues with allies and partners," he told TURAN's Washington correspondent.

The White House, in its turn, made it clear that the administration "never took tanks off the table", as press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre put it.

Price agreed: "We have not taken capabilities off the table. Again, this is a conversation based on what our Ukrainian partners need, when they need it, where they need it."

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.