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Added on the 28/03/2023 07:52:52 - Copyright : Euronews EN
Germany has confirmed the first delivery of eighteen Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine. Ukraine's Defence Minister has also said British tanks have arrived as well. Kyiv has been calling on its western partners to ramp up deliveries of weapons, to roll back Russia's military gains across Ukraine. FRANCE 24's Andrew Hilliar explains.
NATO and defense leaders from roughly 50 countries are meeting at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Friday to discuss pledging further arms to aid Ukraine in its efforts to fight off the Russian invasion, with pressure growing on Germany to provide the country with its Leopard 2 heavy tanks.
Germany and the United States announced Wednesday that they will send battle tanks to Ukraine, the first stage of a coordinated effort by the West to provide dozens of the heavy weapons.
The UK has become the first western nation to give its own heavy armour to Kyiv.
The United States and Germany are poised to boost Ukraine's war effort with the delivery of heavy tanks, sources said, support Russia condemned as a "blatant provocation". The expected tank deliveries come as Ukraine dismissed several senior officials as part of an anti-corruption drive, an issue that has become even more important given the need to keep Western backers onside.
Russia is reportedly trying to slow down supply of Western tanks to Ukraine, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
France 24's cheif foreign editor Rob Parsons says promises of Western tanks for Ukraine is a major step forward, but their effectiveness and impact on the war will depend on how many tanks arrive and, crucially, how soon.
The United States announced on Wednesday it will supply Ukraine with 31 advanced M1 Abrams tanks in a matter of months, following a decision by Germany to send its Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv. But how much difference could these Westerns tanks make in the war and how soon can they arrive in meaningful numbers?
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