US announces shipment to Ukraine of 31 Abrams tanks

The United States announced Wednesday that it will send Ukraine 31 Abrams tanks and will immediately start training Ukrainian soldiers in their use and maintenance in a third country

The tanks will take “months” to reach Ukraine and they will be accompanied by some armored recovery vehicles called M88, which will serve to support them, a senior US official said in statements to the press.

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According to that source, the Joe Biden government has decided to send exactly 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine because that number is equivalent to one tank battalion in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Although the tanks will still take time to arrive, the United States will immediately begin training Ukrainian military so that they learn to operate these “complex” vehicles and can maintain them over time.

The training will take place in a third country, not within Ukrainebut the US government has not yet made public where it will take place.

For its part, the US Department of Defense is looking for mechanisms to send to Ukraine the equipment and fuel needed by the Abramsexplained another senior official to journalists.

US President Joe Biden is scheduled to make the announcement official with a speech at the White House that will begin shortly.

Biden also spoke on the phone this Wednesday with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz! with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, and with the prime ministers of the United Kingdom and Italy, Rishi Sunak and Giorgia Meloni, respectively, the White House reported.

As another official explained to the press, the shipment of tanks Abrams shows the “long-term commitment” of the US to the defense of Ukraine and the “strong unity and determination” of the international community.

Germany announced on Wednesday the shipment of 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks and other countries, such as Spain, have shown their willingness to send these battle tanks to Ukraine.

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.