British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the delivery of main battle tanks to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a talk on Saturday, according to the BBC report. “The prime minister has highlighted Britain’s intention to step up our support for Ukraine,” said a Downing Street source in London.
This intention also includes the provision of Challenger 2 tanks and additional artillery systems. Sunak and Zelenskyi also welcomed similar announcements, including Poland’s offer to supply one company with German-made Leopard main battle tanks – as many as 14, according to media reports. Finland is considering something similar.
Decisive for the reconquest of the occupied territories
Britain initially wants to deliver four Challenger units, then another eight, according to Ukrainian media reports. The BBC reported as many as 24 plays on Saturday. Modern tanks and artillery systems are considered crucial for Ukraine to recapture areas occupied by Russian troops.
APA/AFP/Getty Images/British Army/Pete Bristo Britain can deliver up to 24 main battle tank parts
So far, he has only received ex-Soviet or Russian production models from the stocks of Eastern European NATO countries – mainly in the form of ring exchanges: countries have given up older models and received more modern Western designs in return. Challenger 2 was first delivered in the 1990s. The tank weighs more than 62 tons, engine power is more than 1200 hp, the main weapon is a 120 mm cannon.
So far no Leopard 2 tank from Germany
Ukraine has also been demanding the delivery of the German-made Leopard 2 for months, the A4 version of which is also used by the Austrian Armed Forces. The tank is technically superior to Russian models.
debate
Ukraine: what is needed for peace?
So far, the government in Berlin has refused. The fear that NATO could be drawn into the war in Ukraine is also behind this, it has often been said. According to estimates, Russian units currently occupy about 18% of Ukrainian territory.
“Decisive” when others follow suit
The BBC called London’s recent announcement “crucial” on Saturday, but only if other “allies” follow suit. The breakthrough was therefore also interpreted as a signal to Berlin in particular. So far, Germany has supplied Gepard anti-aircraft vehicles, 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles are expected to follow, and the delivery of Leopard 2 is still the subject of domestic political debates. Berlin also provided artillery, radar and anti-aircraft systems, and ammunition.
berlin brakes
Despite pressure from his “traffic light coalition” of SPD, FPD and Greens, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz does not want to be pushed into the Leopard 2 issue, as he emphasized again on Friday. He criticized “excited statements” in the debate and called for more prudence.
The “necessity of having to say something every ten minutes” must not lead to decisions “related to war and peace” being “simply shaken up”, Scholz said in Berlin. On issues of further support for Kyiv, Germany “will always act in close coordination with our friends and allies”, he stressed. Most Germans are critical of tank deliveries.