Rishi Sunak vowed to ‘seize the moment’ amid several key Ukrainian victories (Photo: PA)

Britain will send Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine to help in the war against Russia.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed the commitment during a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

He promised to “seize the moment” and help “push back the Russian troops”.

The Ukrainian military currently operates older Soviet-era tanks such as the T-72 model.

The Russian military also largely relies on tanks manufactured during the Cold War.

A spokesman for Number 10 said: “Leaders have been reflecting on the current state of the Russian war in Ukraine, with successive Ukrainian victories pushing back Russian troops and exacerbating their military and morale problems.

They agreed that this moment should be seized with accelerated global military and diplomatic support to Ukraine.

“The Prime Minister has set out the UK’s ambition to increase our support to Ukraine, including through the delivery of Challenger 2 tanks and additional artillery systems.”

Poland has also offered to supply a company with Leopard tanks to Ukraine.

A Royal Welsh Battle Group Challenger 2 main battle tank during exercise Prairie Storm at British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) in Canada. The Prairies of Alberta have provided the British Army with an excellent opportunity for large-scale training since 1972. The British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) is an organization based in one of the most sparsely populated areas of the Alberta Plain. BATUS is equipped with more than 1000 vehicles, including a full range of Challenger 2 tanks and Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicles. Every year a regiment is sent there for six months to fill the role of

A Challenger 2 main battle tank of the Royal Welsh Battle Group during an exercise (Photo: Avalon.red / Avalon)

no 10 added: “The Prime Minister stressed that he and the entire British government would work intensively with international partners to swiftly provide the kind of support that will enable Ukraine to benefit from winning this war and unite.”

President Zelensky thanked the UK for the decisions taken, “which not only strengthen us on the battlefield, but also send the right signal to other partners”.

He tweeted: “Britain’s ever strong support is now impenetrable and ready for a challenge.

“In a conversation with the Prime Minister, I thanked them for the decisions that not only strengthen us on the battlefield, but also send the right signal to other partners.”

The shadow defense secretary said Labor supported the prime minister’s decision to supply Ukraine with tanks to help it fight Russia.

John Healey said: “Modern tanks are crucial to Ukraine’s efforts to win the battle against Russian aggression.

“The government has full Labor support for military aid to Ukraine.

But ministers must go beyond ad hoc announcements and lay out a plan for military, economic and diplomatic support through 2023 and beyond.

It has been almost a year since Russia invaded Ukraine (Photo: Ukrainian Presidential Office/Handout/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

“As the first anniversary of the Russian invasion approaches, this will help reassure Ukrainians that Britain will stand by them for as long as necessary and send a signal to Putin that things are getting worse for Russia, not better.”

The Russian military also largely relies on tanks manufactured during the Cold War.

Mr Sunak previously described the tanks as “groundbreaking”.

His official spokesman had said: “It is clear that main battle tanks can provide the Ukrainians with breakthrough capabilities.

“The Prime Minister has told the President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyj will provide Britain with everything we can last week.

“The Prime Minister has asked the Defense Minister to work with partners in the coming weeks to discuss how we can go even further and faster with our support to Ukraine, including the supply of tanks.”

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