The USA and Germany are now ready to fight the Russians after months of debate on their involvement in the on-going Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The administration of US Vice President Joe Biden is anticipated to reveal plans to deliver M1 Abrams tanks. Olaf Scholz, the chancellor of Germany, apparently also planned to send at least 14 Leopard 2 tanks.
According to Ukrainian officials, the possible shipments might significantly alter the combat situation when fighting the Russians. Such a tank deployment would have “unambiguously negative consequences” according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
To now, internal and external pressure on the US and Germany to send their tanks to Ukraine has been met with resistance. Washington has emphasized the high-tech Abrams’ considerable maintenance and training needs.
Berlin has expressed concern about NATO joining the battle with Russia directly. US media sites are citing unnamed sources when they say that an announcement concerning Abrams shipments to Ukraine could happen as soon as Wednesday.
The New York Times quoted an anonymous official as saying that 30 could be dispatched. However, it’s unclear when any such deliveries might happen.
German officials reportedly privately maintained that they would only consent to the supply of Leopard 2 aircraft to Ukraine if the US also delivered M1 Abrams.
Democratic Senator Chris Coons, a supporter of Biden, said Politico on Tuesday that if the Germans continued to insist that they would only deploy or release Leopards if the Americans sent Abrams, they should send Abrams instead.
The British government has already committed to sending Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine.
This week, Poland stated that it wanted to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, but due to their German manufacturing, Berlin must first authorize their export.
According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Leopard 2 tanks are deployed in at least 16 NATO and European nations. Although not everyone will send tanks to Ukraine, Mr. Scholz’s apparent decision now gives them the option to do so if they so want.
»US and Germany ready to fight Russia, sends tanks to Ukraine«