The White House also commented on the possibility of providing military aircraft to Ukraine.
Decision about transfer of tanks in the USA explained the new conditions on the battlefield.
As written Voice of AmericaJohn Kirby, strategic communications coordinator of the US National Security Council, said during a briefing on January 25, commenting on the decision of the US and its allies to provide heavy modern tanks to Ukraine.
According to him, the United States is developing Ukraine’s defense capabilities and providing what corresponds to the conditions on the battlefield.
Kirby noted that the weapons provided take into account “the types of warfare that the Russians are currently conducting. And more importantly, the types of warfare that we believe the Ukrainians should be capable of in the coming weeks and months of 2023.”
He also emphasized that managing these modern tanks is not easy.
“It takes a lot to make these tanks work on the battlefield. However, we have never ruled out supplying tanks. Since the start of this war 11 months ago, we have been evolving the capabilities that we provide to Ukraine based on the conditions on the ground. Moving on to your specific questions, what has changed? What has changed is the conditions on the ground and the types of warfare that the Russians are now conducting. And more importantly, the types of warfare that we believe the Ukrainians should be capable of in the coming weeks and months of 2023 year”.
Kirby did not give a specific time frame for the delivery of the tanks, but he said that the Ukrainian military will be able to start training in a few weeks.
Kirby also commented on Ukraine’s desire to receive modern fighter jets from the West. He did not say whether such deliveries are planned, but noted that he understands the Ukrainians.
“We are in constant discussions with the Ukrainians about capabilities and, as I said, we are evolving with changing conditions. I can’t blame the Ukrainians for wanting more and more systems. This is not the first time they have asked for fighters, but I don’t have announcements on this matter,” said a White House representative.
Transfer of tanks to Ukraine: details
On January 25, US President Joe Biden announced that the US provide Ukraine with 31 Abrams tanks and welcomed Germany’s decision to supply Ukraine with Leopard 2 tanks.
The German government officially agreed to the transfer to Ukraine 14 units of Leopard 2 tanks and allowed re-export to other countries.
The head of the permanent delegation of Ukraine to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, People’s Deputy Yehor Chernev said today on the air of a telethon that there are more than a thousand Leopard tanks throughout Europe, and each country will be able to transfer 10-15% of its reserves to Ukraine without losing its own defense capability.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi in an evening video message statedthat it is necessary to form such a tank fist of freedom, so that after its blow, Russian tyranny will not rise again.
Zelensky noted that he spoke today with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. According to him, the next task is to obtain the consent of the allies to also supply long-range missiles to Ukraine and to start supplying aircraft to Ukraine.
Zelenskyi emphasized that the more defense support our heroes at the front receive from the world, the sooner Russia’s aggression will end and the more reliable security guarantees will be for Ukraine and all partners after the war.