Ukraine seeking jets, long-range missiles after US and Germany pledge modern tanks
- The US joined Germany in promising to supply Ukraine with battle tanks against Russia
- Ukraine’s president said he hoped that deliveries of planes and long-range missiles will follow
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US joins Germany in supplying tanks to Ukraine, to provide 31 advanced M1 Abrams
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he wants the West to send long-range missiles and jets after the United States and Germany agreed to supply battle tanks to help repel Russia’s invasion.
The US will send 31 M1 Abrams tanks, which is the US Army’s premier battle tank, while Germany will send 14 of its Leopard 2s, which the Bundeswehr calls a “predator on tracks”. Moscow has denounced the West’s moves as a provocation.
US President Joe Biden said that in total European allies have agreed to send enough tanks to equip two Ukrainian tank battalions, or a total of 62 tanks.
Ukraine and Russia have been relying primarily on Soviet-era T-72 tanks.
“With spring approaching, Ukrainian forces are working to defend the territory they hold and preparing for additional counteroffensives,” Biden said on Wednesday in his announcement of his decision to send the tanks. “To liberate their land, they need to be able to counter Russia’s evolving tactics and strategy on the battlefield in the very near term.”
Zelensky, who turned 45 on Wednesday, thanked Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for the tanks, a decision that opens the floodgates to several other European countries armed with Leopards to send their own contributions.