Zelenski thanks Germany for sending tanks; The US is also preparing to send Abrams

President ukrainian, Volodymyr Zelenskythanked the chancellor this Wednesday GermanOlaf Scholz, his decision to send tanks “Leopard 2” to his country and said that the German announcement occurs “on time”.

“Top German tanks, further expansion of defense support and training missions, green light for partners to supply similar weapons,” Zelenski highlighted on social networks after a telephone conversation he had with Scholz and that he revealed before the German Bundestag.

“I am sincerely grateful to Olaf Scholz and to all our friends in Germany”added the Ukrainian president, who explained that he learned from the chancellor himself of these contributions to the defense of his country and argued that it is about “important decisions and on time”.

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Scholz had officially announced his government’s decision to send “quickly” two battalions with tanks “Leopard 26A”with a total of fourteen vehicles, which come from the stocks of the Federal Army.

“This decision follows our known line of supporting Ukraine to the best of our ability. We act internationally in a highly coordinated manner”added the chancellor when announcing the decision, which had already been advanced on Tuesday by various German media.

Other European partners will move their type tanks Leopard 2″. The training of Ukrainian soldiers will begin quickly in Germany. In addition to training, the package will also include logistics, ammunition and system maintenance, the German government explained.

Berlin also specified that Germany will issue the corresponding transfer permits to partner countries that wish to quickly deliver the “Leopard 2” tanks from their stocks to Ukraine.

Two sources in the United States said Washington would also provide dozens of its M1 Abrams tanks.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that any US tank sent to Ukraine “will burn like all the others.”

Twenty armies around the world have Leopards, which Germany has made by the thousands. Poland and Finland have already promised them once Berlin agrees and other countries are expected to follow quickly. The United Kingdom has already offered a company of its Challengers and France is considering sending its Leclercs.

“PROVOCATION”

Moscow says supplying Ukraine with modern offensive weaponry will prolong the war and postpone what it says will be its inevitable victory. Anatoly Antonov, Russia’s ambassador to Washington, said the US tank deliveries would be “another blatant provocation.”

“It is obvious that Washington is deliberately trying to inflict a strategic defeat on us,” Antonov said on the embassy’s Telegram channel.

Russia stepped up its threats last week, with former President Dmitry Medvedev, an ally of President Vladimir Putin, saying openly that a nuclear power facing defeat could use nuclear weapons.

Western officials who support sending the tanks have dismissed Moscow’s threats as bluff, saying Russia is already waging a full-speed war and has been deterred from attacking NATO or using nuclear weapons.

“NATO allies and friends make the right decision to send major battle tanks to Ukraine. Together with the Challenger 2s, they will strengthen Ukraine’s defensive firepower,” British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki thanked Scholz on Twitter for a “big step to stop Russia.”

The decision lifts one of the last taboos on Western support: providing weapons that are primarily offensive rather than defensive in purpose.

Pledges in recent weeks already include hundreds of Western armored fighting vehicles and personnel carriers, which are seen as most effective for attacking when combined with tanks to break through enemy lines.

Source: Reuters and EFE

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