President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that the US will send 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine as part of a major effort by European allies to show they are still united against the Russian invasion.

Volodymyr Zelenskyi and Joe BidenPhoto: Yuriy Hrypas/ABACA / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia

  • Yesterday was 11 months since Russia invaded Ukraine
  • Democrats and Republicans united so that Ukrainians could defend their country from Russia’s brutal aggression
  • We had a long conversation with our allies to continue our coordinated support to Ukraine
  • We are completely one
  • Ukrainians need opportunities to protect themselves from Russian aggression in the long term
  • Today I am announcing that the US will be sending 31 Abrams tanks

Biden describes the Abrams tanks as “the most powerful tanks in the world” and “extremely difficult to operate and maintain.” Therefore, the US also provides Ukraine with the necessary parts and equipment to effectively support these tanks on the battlefield.

It will take time to put these tanks on the ground – time that we will use to ensure that the Ukrainians are fully prepared to integrate the Abrams tanks into their defenses.

  • Ukrainian troops will be ready as soon as possible
  • If Russian troops had returned to Russia, this war would be over today. This is what we all want – an end to this war.

Asked if Germany had forced him to change his mind about sending Abrams tanks, Biden said the idea from the beginning was to make the decision together with other nations.

  • Germany did not make me change my mind. I wanted to make sure we were all together…just like we are now.

Biden also said he was “grateful” to Chancellor Olaf Scholz for taking the step to supply Ukraine with German-made Leopard 2 tanks and for his “resolute commitment” to supporting Ukraine.

According to Biden, Scholz was “a strong voice for unity and a close friend.”

He went on to thank every country that supports Ukraine, which took part in a meeting of defense ministers at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany last week.

On the eve of the press conference, US President Joe Biden spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Maloni and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak about the close cooperation of the countries in support of Ukraine, the White House reported. .

Biden’s remarks came after Germany said it would supply Ukraine with Leopard 2 tanks, allaying fears about sending the heavy weapons Kyiv says is necessary to defeat a Russian invasion.

Earlier, the mass media reported that Germany would allow Ukraine to supply Leopard tanks if the US would hand over Abrams tanks to Kyiv. However, the German government denied such a request.

  • The condition of Germany allowed to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine

At the same time, a few hours before the start of Biden’s speech, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Oleksiy Reznikov, said that he spoke on the phone with his American colleague and that more good news is waiting.

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