The information was circulating, it has just been made official: the United Kingdom will provide Ukraine with Challenger 2 tanks, he announced this Saturday. It will thus be the first Western country to send heavy tanks to help kyiv against the Russian invasion, Downing Street said in a statement.
During an interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak underlined “the UK’s willingness to step up its support to Ukraine, in particular by providing Challenger 2 tanks and artillery systems extra,” Downing Street said. London does not specify how many tanks it intends to send to kyiv, nor when, nor how it intends to provide training in the use and maintenance of the Challenger 2.
But the two British and Ukrainian leaders agree on the “need to take advantage” of recent Ukrainian victories which have “repelled Russian troops”.
London “sends the right signal”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky immediately welcomed the British decision to provide heavy battle tanks to his country on Saturday, saying that London “is sending the right signal”, while kyiv is increasing requests for military equipment. “During a conversation with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, I thanked him for taking decisions that not only strengthen us on the battlefield, but also send the right signal to our partners,” Volodymyr Zelensky said on Twitter.
Since the beginning 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 deliver 14 Leopard 2 heavy tanks, a German tank model considered one of the most powerful in the world.
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, during the next meeting of Ukraine’s allies in Ramstein (Germany).