OUR Ukraine will receive “120 to 140” heavy tanks from its Western allies as part of a “first wave” of deliveries from 12 countries, Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said today.

Over the past few days, Kyiv has received commitments from several Western countries to send tanks to help Ukrainian forces fend off the Russian invasion.

“The Chariot Coalition now has 12 members. I can report that 120-140 Western tanks will receive the APU in the first stage of deliveries,” the Ukrainian prime minister said in an online interview. According to him, these are German Leopard 2 tanks, British Challenger 2 and American M1 Abrams. Kyiv also expects to receive French tanks Leclerc.

OUR Cottage he did not name the exact schedule of deliveries. It will also take some time to train Ukrainian soldiers to handle these tanks. He noted that his country is working behind the scenes to secure the tanks of other countries at this critical stage of the war. “We continue to work both to expand the coalition of chariots (s.b.: number of countries) and to increase the contribution of those who have already pledged to give us,” he said.

Kyiv is planning a major counteroffensive aimed at liberating Russian-held territory in southern and eastern Ukraine. However, the US has urged the Ukrainian authorities to postpone these plans until Western military assistance arrives. But Ukraine fears that Russia could launch its own counterattack in the coming weeks and months.

Source: APE-MPE-Reuters