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The US will deliver 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. Photos/Illustrations
PARIS – Western countries will send more than 300 tank the Ukraine . This claim was made by the Ukrainian Ambassador to France, Vadym Omelchenko.
“As of today, many countries have officially confirmed their agreement to deliver 321 heavy tanks to Ukraine,” Omelchenko told the French TV station and CNN-affiliated BFM television.
But he did not specify which countries would provide the tanks to Ukraine or provide details on the models of the armored vehicles.
Omelchenko’s figures come after the United States (US) this week pledged to provide 31 M1 Abrams tanks and Germany agreed to deliver 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks. Britain has previously pledged 14 Challenger 2 tanks, while Poland has sought approval from Germany to transfer some Berlin-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
When the tanks will arrive in Ukraine is still unclear. Omelchenko said the delivery date would vary depending on the type of tanks and country of origin, and the timing would be adjusted during the next round of consultations between Ukraine and Western countries.
However, echoing the words of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who earlier urged the West to deliver what some experts see as military hardware that changed the course of the war, Omelchenko said Ukraine needed help “as soon as possible”.
“If we have to wait until August or September, it will be too late,” he said.
Ukrainian forces have warned they are a race against time. The country fears a second wave of Russian attacks will begin in two months and is preparing for the coming weeks.
Previous military assistance, such as the American HIMARS rocket system, was instrumental in helping Ukraine disrupt the Russian advance and mount a series of successful counteroffensives in recent months.
But, say military experts, tanks are the most powerful direct offensive weapon provided to Ukraine so far.
