Finally, Ukraine is equipped with Western tanks

The major Western powers have finally decided to send armoured vehicles to Ukraine, a decision the Ukrainian leadership had long sought and hopes will give a major impetus while struggling with Vladimir Putin's troops.

This initiative began Wednesday when Emmanuel Macron announced he is sending non-x0 light>” military armoured vehicles AMX-10 RCU in Ukraine. Macron decided to give “back aid” in response to the “needs expressed by Ukraine”, a communique from the French presidency said.

The French decision was the first <x0) time a tank designed by the West would be delivered to Ukraine. In a symbolic way, it is important”, said Francisco Heisbourg, senior adviser for Europe at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

The French decision pressured other countries to follow the same example. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked France for AMX-10 on Wednesday and urged other allies to provide tanks and other heavy weapons.

There is no rational reason why Ukraine is not yet supplied with Western tanks”, he said.

A few hours later, Germany and the United States let their decisions be known.

Germany will provide its fighter infantry vehicle, Marcherı, was said in a joint statement with the United States, which will send Ukraine the combat vehicle "Bradley."

None of these are the kind of modern combat machines Ukraine really wants, such as the most advanced French leclerc, Germany's éopardy or comM1 Abrams) American Army, which are more mobile, more precise and have longer ranges compared to older Soviet tanks, yet these decisions signal that the shipments of tanks are no longer out of reach.

Germany will also join the United States in donating a US-made air defence battery Patriotão, bringing the number of KPPatrioʹ tanks to two after the White House announced the decision last month, according to Thursday's statement.

While the United Kingdom has not yet made a similar commitment, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said after a meeting with German counterpart Annalena Bayerbox that “Britania has offered the kind of military equipment that is able to give a decisive blow against Russian targets in the distance.

“We will continue to talk to Ukrainians about what they need the next phase of their self-defence and continue to work with our international partners to make sure that we secure it. Tanks can be part of this. Where they come from, who the Allies offer them, is something we're certainly working on co-ordinating with each other”.

Further Repressed

The decision to submit “of the light”, however, marks a change in French perspective after President Macro announced that France would assist Ukraine to victory” during his New Year's speech.

Future shipments can only be the beginning. Ukrainians are still asking France to send tanks to Ukraine, which are heavier, more powerful and more protected than BARAMX-1050. Asked whether France plans to send such equipment, a government adviser said the request is being considered and the decision depends on whether France can save tanks naught Leleclercão, and whether Ukrainians can be trained to use them at the right time.

But according to Heisbourg, it would make more sense for Ukrainians to be trained in German tanks, such as Leopard 1 and 2ʹ, which are still being produced and used in many different European countries, instead of the NCLICS, which would be difficult to maintain in Ukraine.

“Ukrains really want Leoparda”, Heisbourg said. /Politico.eu