Britain will send Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine

Britain will supply Ukraine with Challenger 2 tanks and will be the first country to send Western-made heavy tanks to help the country fight off a Russian invasion, the government said in a statement on Saturday.

During a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stressed “the UK’s commitment to increasing its support for Ukraine, including the supply of Challenger 2 tanks and additional artillery systems,” according to Downing.Street.

The government did not say how many tanks would be delivered, when, or how it would provide training in use and maintenance of the Challenger 2.

But British and Ukrainian leaders agreed on the “need to take advantage” of recent Ukrainian victories that had “pushed back Russian troops.”

Zelensky thanked the UK on Twitter for the decision which “will not only strengthen us on the battlefield, but sends the right signal to other partners.”

Since the start of the Russian invasion nearly a year ago, Kyiv’s European allies have delivered nearly 300 modernized Soviet tanks, but never Western heavy tanks, despite repeated requests from Ukraine.

Britain’s announcement came three days after Poland said it was ready to deliver 14 Leopard 2 heavy tanks, a German model considered one of the most effective in the world.

Last week, France, Germany and the United States pledged armored vehicles to transport infantry and reconnaissance tanks, among other things.

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Roderick Gilbert

"Entrepreneur. Internet fanatic. Certified zombie scholar. Friendly troublemaker. Bacon expert."

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