Austin: Relief package includes tanks, but not Ukrainian-wanted tanks

Austin said at a media conference at the US air base, Ramstein, in Germany that the package includes tanks, but not German production war tanks Leopard, who has requested Ukraine, or American tanks, Abrams.

Kiev says it needs German production Leopard tanks to repel Russian troops, but the Kremlin has warned that any Allied decision to hand over tanks would be an extremely dangerous “escalation of the situation.

Leopard's report requires the German government's approval, so other countries with these tanks cannot send them to Ukraine without this approval.

Berlin has said this week that the decision on Leopard tanks is conditional on the United States' decision to send Abrams tanks, something Washington does not plan to do.

The package that Austin and US General Mark Milley described after the Ukraine's Defence Contact Group meeting includes a series of obuses, armoured vehicles and ammunition.

He said the package also includes the “tank capacity” provided by Poland. “This is a very, very large package”, Austin said.

If properly deployed, it will enable [the Ukrainian forces] to be successful”.

Ukrainian troops are being trained with equipment that has already been sent to them by the cartels.

We are really focused on ensuring that Ukraine has the potential it needs to succeed. We have a window of possibilities here, from now until spring... every time they start their operation, counterattacking them”, Austin told reporters.

In total, the United States has earmarked $27 billion in aid to Ukraine since Moscow started the war in February last year.

Western allies have also offered weapons worth billions of dollars to Ukraine. / REL