John Kirby, the White House national security spokesman, told CNN on Friday that the new tranche of Abrams tanks announced by the US as part of aid to Ukraine this week will not be leaving the US anytime soon and that “it will be many months before they can reach the field “.

Despite the deadline, Kirby said the Biden administration will “waste no time” in providing training and strengthening supply chains so Ukrainian forces are best equipped to use them when they arrive in Ukraine.

Kirby declined to say whether he thinks they will appear before the end of 2023.

“I don’t want to be too specific because we are still working on the plans, but it will be many months,” Kirby said, but in the meantime, a shipment of Leopard tanks from Germany will arrive on the ground in Ukraine. “soon”.

Kirby also declined to say whether U.S. President Joe Biden is considering a trip to the region to mark the anniversary of the Russian invasion, but told CNN that Biden is “in close contact with President Zelensky — quite a lot of conversations.” “.

“I think you know that the president definitely wants to make a trip to Ukraine. But now we are not,” he said.

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.

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.

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