Zelensky thanks for the tanks, but says they will arrive in Ukraine very late

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke in an interview for Sky News Channel for assistance provided by the West. He expressed gratitude for the decisions to send tanks to Ukraine, although arms shipments take time to realise. Asked if it would be late for tanks from America to arrive by August, he said:

Too late. But I don't really know. I don't know the real situation at the moment when America will send Abrams tanks to us. I don't really know when the tanks from Europe are coming... Nobody knows that today. Of course we'll learn it in the days and weeks ahead, but it's a big problem”.

Mr Zelensky added that he is now no longer interested in holding peace talks with the Russian president.

President Joe Biden made the announcement Wednesday to the White House on the delivery of tanks.

“Today I am announcing that the United States will send 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, equivalent to a Ukrainian battalion. Secretary Austin recommended this step that will strengthen Ukraine's capacities to protect its territory and achieve its strategic goals”He said.

President Biden's announcement came just a few hours after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced during a speech to parliament that Berlin will provide 14 Leopard tanks and give the approval of European countries sending their tanks to Ukraine, with the goal that within the next few months, two battalions with Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine be established.

Chancellor Scholz's announcement was long expected from Ukraine, Poland, Baltic countries and other countries. The German leader said Berlin supports Ukraine, but made it clear that he does not want to provoke Russia.

We should always make it clear that we are doing what is necessary and possible to support Ukraine. But at the same time, we are preventing war from escalating into a war between Russia and NATO, and we will always continue to adhere to this principle”He said.

President Biden thanked Chancellor Scholz, saying Germany has come to the aid of Ukraine. The American president also noted that the aim of tanks is to help Ukraine protect its territory.

Russia is not threatened with offensive. If Russian forces were to return to Russia, they would be where they belong. This war would have ended already. That's what we all want, an end to this fight under the right and stable conditions”President Biden said.

Ukraine has long called for 250 ʹ 300 tanks. Military experts say the total number the Allied countries have promised to send so far is around 90.

In Moscow, Russia's Foreign Ministry has called these decisions dangerous and warned that they will escalate the conflict. / VOA/