The US is joining its allies in sending tanks to Ukraine so that the country can be more successful against Russian invaders, President Joe Biden said on Wednesday.
“With spring approaching, Ukrainian forces are working to defend their captured territories and prepare for additional attacks,” Biden said. “To liberate their land, they need to be able to counter the evolving Russian tactics and strategies on the battlefield in the near term. They need to improve their ability to maneuver in open terrain and need the ability to withstand and defend against Russian aggression in the long term.
The Biden administration will send 31 M1 Abrams tanks – the equivalent of one Ukrainian battalion – to Ukrainian forces, while Germany and other European countries will send German-made Leopard 2 tanks. Britain also plans to supply Kyiv with 14 of its own Challenger 2 tanks, and France is donating AMX-10 armored fighting vehicles. Together, the shipments represent a turning point in Western support for Ukraine – and a sign of confidence in Ukraine’s ability to retake territory from Russian forces that invaded their country 11 months ago.
“The United States, standing with our allies and partners, will continue to do everything we can to support Ukraine,” Biden said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin “expects Europe and the United States to undermine our resolve,” Biden said. “They expected support for Ukraine to grow over time. They were wrong. They were wrong from the beginning and they continue to be wrong.”
Ukrainian leaders say the military needs 300 tanks to support the war effort, taking advantage of Russia’s weakness before Moscow can equip its forces. The tanks, especially the Abrams model, are already advanced, so it will take months for them to arrive and the Ukrainian forces to learn how to deploy them.
“The Abrams tank is the most capable tank in the world, and it’s also very complex to operate and maintain,” Biden said. “So we’re also giving Ukraine the parts and equipment it needs to effectively keep these tanks on the battlefield.”
In recent weeks, Germany has been reluctant to approve the transfer of tanks to Ukraine – including from an ally that supplies German equipment that requires Berlin’s permission to export – for fear of escalating the conflict and only face retaliation from Moscow. But earlier on Wednesday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz tacitly admitted that he had heeded international criticism and the argument that without strong support for Ukraine now, a worse escalation by Russia would be inevitable. Scholz said that Germany will send 14 Leopard 2 tanks.
Biden noted Scholz’s commitment to organizing two Leopard battalions for Ukraine by working with other countries that hold the tanks and said that “Germany has really come a long way.”
The Biden administration is smart to understand and carefully deal with the German problem without publicly pressuring Scholz as some other Western governments have done, analysts said after the comments.
“Biden has a broader goal: Unity and Ukraine,” said Liana Fix, an expert at the Council on Foreign Relations. tweeted. “Turning the page after last week’s disruption, he praised the German leader and Olaf Scholz as a close friend. That’s how leadership works. Be generous with your praise, and effective with your policies.
Some US officials have been wary of committing Abrams tanks to Ukraine. But his colleagues argued that the promise was the key to Germany moving forward to win the internal debate of the Biden administration.
Biden dismissed the idea that Germany “forced” him to change his mind about sending tanks, adding “we want to make sure we’re all together.”
And he noted that the US and its partners are also focused on strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses, an effort to deter Russian attacks on Ukraine’s military capabilities or outrages like the Russian attack on an apartment building this month that killed at least 40 civilians.
Biden still insists that the US will not join the war in Ukraine with its own troops.
“Today’s announcement is based on the hard work and commitment of countries around the world, led by the United States, to help Ukraine defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Biden said.
“This is about, helping Ukraine defend and protect Ukrainian land,” he said. “This is not a threat to invade Russia. There is no threat to invade Russia. If Russian troops return to Russia, they will be there wherever they are. This war will end today. This is what we all want, is to end this war.
Ukraine’s leadership is worried that Western support may be waning, particularly because of skepticism toward Kyiv among some members of the Republican Party, which gained greater influence by taking over the House of Representatives this month.
U.S. and allied officials say continuing to seek aid in a united manner is key to reassuring Ukrainians. Congress has given significant assistance to the war-torn country by 2023, he said.
“Ukraine is fighting an old war against aggression and domination. This is a war that America is proud to fight, and this is a war that we will fight so that Ukrainians are also equipped to fight,” said Biden. “This is about freedom – freedom for Ukraine, freedom everywhere. This is about the kind of world we want to live in and the world we want to leave for our children.