Britain will provide 28 Challenger 2 main battle tanks instead of the previously promised 14, Ukrainian Ambassador to Great Britain Vadym Prystaiko said in an interview with Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, The Kyiv Independent quotes.
“If we were promised 14 tanks, as a result of President Zelensky’s visit, this number will double,” Prystaiko said.
Britain has promised Challenger 2 tanks as part of an aid package to Western allies.
Several countries have pledged to send dozens of German-made Leopard 2 tanks, and the US has promised to send 31 Abrams tanks later this year.
In early February, the British Ministry of Defense published images of Ukrainian crews training on British Challenger 2 tanks, writing that the Ukrainians are quickly learning how to use the combat vehicles.
Challenger 2 main battle tanks may begin arriving in Ukraine “in the spring,” British Defense Minister Ben Wallace said in an interview with Reuters last week.
Britain could provide Ukraine with more of its main battle tanks in addition to the 14 already promised, but that would depend on the country’s defense needs, Wallace told the news agency at the time.
A statement from the UK Ministry of Defense said the exercise was “continuing at a steady pace” and would continue for several weeks.
“The Ukrainians will continue to fight and Britain, together with our allies, will not waver,” Wallace said. “We will continue to provide the necessary capabilities to support Ukraine for as long as necessary,” he added.
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Source: Hot News
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