British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Saturday pledged to offer Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine, making it the primary Western nation to provide the heavy tanks Kyiv has been calling for.
The pledge noticed a swift response from Russia which warned it will solely “intensify” the battle.
“Bringing tanks to the conflict zone, far from drawing the hostilities to a close, will only serve to intensify combat operations, generating more casualties, including among the civilian population,” the Russian embassy within the UK mentioned.
Sunak mentioned the tanks have been an indication of the UK’s “ambition to intensify our support to Ukraine,” in response to a readout of a cellphone name with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukraine’s European allies have despatched Kyiv greater than 300 modernized Soviet tanks since Russia invaded in February 2022.
But they’ve to this point held off on dispatching the Western-made heavy tanks that Ukraine has repeatedly requested to push ahead towards Russian invaders.
Zelensky thanked the UK on Twitter for making choices that “will not only strengthen us on the battlefield, but also send the right signal to other partners.”
Heavy losses
Ukraine’s forces have taken heavy losses within the battles of Soledar and Bakhmut in current months and have known as on the nation’s allies to present it extra help.
Russia mentioned on Friday its forces had wrested management of the war-scarred city of Soledar in east Ukraine, its first declare of victory in months of battlefield setbacks, though Ukraine mentioned fierce preventing was nonetheless beneath method.
“To win this war, we need more military equipment, heavy equipment,” Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine’s presidential workplace, mentioned.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba additionally mentioned that he had spoken with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and “emphasized the need” for Ukraine to obtain Western-type tanks.
Sunak’s formal supply follows stories that he was making ready to log off on sending 4 British Army Challenger 2 principal battle tanks to jap Europe instantly, with eight extra to comply with shortly afterwards.
The prime minister’s workplace has not but confirmed the precise variety of tanks it would ship to Kyiv.
Seize the second
A Downing Street spokesman mentioned Sunak and Zelensky agreed on the “need to seize on this moment” after Ukrainian victories had “pushed Russian troops back.”
“The Prime Minister outlined the UK’s ambition to intensify our support to Ukraine, including through the provision of Challenger 2 tanks and additional artillery systems,” the spokesman mentioned.
The problem of heavy tanks has lengthy been a key one for Kyiv and lots of specialists see offering Ukraine with fashionable tanks as a significant constructing block in its means to win towards Russia.
Germany has been particularly hesitant of supplying heavy tanks.
It has delivered highly effective cellular artillery and air defenses however stays scared of an escalation with Moscow if its tanks face off straight towards their Russian counterparts.
The Downing Street spokesman added that Sunak and Zelensky “welcomed other international commitments including Poland’s offer to provide a company of Leopard tanks.”
“The Prime Minister stressed that he and the whole UK Government would be working intensively with international partners to deliver rapidly the kind of support which will allow Ukraine to press their advantage, win this war and secure a lasting peace,” he mentioned.
The UK announcement comes forward of subsequent week’s assembly of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, which coordinates arms provides to Kyiv, at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. — Agence France-Presse
