The administration Biden will send 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine in a deal valued at $400 millionaccording to two officials familiar with the matter, meeting the country’s demands for powerful armor to counter entrenched Russian forces in the east of the country.
The tanks will be built by General Dynamics Corp. and financed under the Ukrainian Security Assistance Initiative, said the sources, who asked not to be named citing private information. It was not clear how long it will take to build the tanks, but the process is likely to take many months.
Why Leopard tanks are important for the future of war in Ukraine
The United States had come under heavy pressure from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky to supply its most sophisticated main battle tank, but had rejected those demands, arguing that the Abrams was not suitable for Ukraine because it requires aviation fuel and a extensive training.
But Germany had refused to send its own tank, the Leopard 2, unless the US and its allies did the same. The supply of the Leopard 2 is much more abundant and it might reach the battlefield much more quickly..
Earlier on Wednesday, Germany pledged to supply Ukraine with more than 100 Leopard 2 main battle tanks in a joint effort with the allies.
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