The UK will send Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine. London has not yet specified how many tanks it intends to send to kyiv, but several British media mention the number of 12 Challenger 2.
Lhe United Kingdom will supply Ukraine with Challenger 2 tanks, becoming the first country to send Western-built heavy tanks to help kyiv in the face of the Russian invasion, Downing Street announced on Saturday.
In an interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stressed “the UK’s willingness to step up its support to Ukraine, including by providing additional Challenger 2 tanks and artillery systems”. , Downing Street said in a statement.
Mr Zelensky thanked the UK on Twitter for taking decisions that “not only will strengthen us on the battlefield, but also send the right signal to other partners”.
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The British government does not specify how many tanks it intends to send to kyiv but several British media mention the number of 12 Challenger 2: four would be sent immediately and eight others should follow in the short term.
The two British and Ukrainian leaders stressed during their conversation the “need to take advantage” of recent Ukrainian victories which have “repelled Russian troops”. Since the start of the Russian invasion almost a year ago, kyiv’s European allies have already delivered nearly 300 modernized Soviet tanks, but never yet Western-built heavy tanks, despite repeated requests from the Ukraine.
The British announcement comes after Poland said it was ready on Wednesday to provide 14 Leopard 2, German-designed heavy tanks considered to be among the most efficient in the world, an announcement welcomed on Saturday by MM. Sunak and Zelensky. Last week, France, Germany and the United States promised to send armored vehicles carrying infantry or reconnaissance tanks – 40 German Marders, 50 American Bradleys and French AMX-10 RCs.
New announcements could come on January 20, on the occasion of the next meeting of Ukraine’s allies in Ramstein (Germany).
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