January 24, Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov claimed that the US might transfer battle tanks to Ukraine would be “another blatant provocation” once morest Russia.
In a statement on the Russian Embassy’s Telegram page, Ambassador Anatoly Antonov emphasized: “It is clear that Washington is seeking to inflict a strategic defeat on us.
If the US decides to supply tanks (to Ukraine), then justifying that move with arguments regarding ‘defensive weapons’ will certainly not work. This will be another blatant provocation once morest the Russian Federation.”
Earlier, the AP news agency on the same day reported that US officials said the administration of President Joe Biden was ready to approve the transfer M1 Abrams tank to Ukraine. This decision might be announced as soon as January 25, although it might take months or years to deliver these tanks to Ukraine.
U.S. officials say there are still some formalities to work out. The tanks will be purchased under the soon-to-be-announced Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative package, which provides longer-term funding for weapons and equipment purchased from commercial suppliers, an official said. .
According to another official, the US will officially announce the matter on January 25, along with the German announcement that Berlin has accepted Poland’s request to deliver the German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
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By agreeing to deliver the Abrams tanks at an unspecified time under the support initiative, the US administration is able to respond to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s request for an American commitment without having to send the vehicles. increased to Ukraine immediately.
Weapons delivered through the aforementioned support initiative can take months to years to reach the battlefield.
So far, most of the US aid to Ukraine in the 11-month war has been delivered through a separate program that relies on the Pentagon’s stockpile to deliver weapons to Ukraine more quickly.
However, even that way, it would take the US months to bring tanks to Ukraine and train Ukrainian forces to use them.
Thanh Binh (VNA/Vietnam+)
