UK sending heavy tanks to Ukraine, Russia warns

Cuttack:

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Saturday pledged to provide Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine, making Kyiv the first Western country to supply the heavy tanks.

The pledge drew a sharp reaction from Russia which warned it would only “intensify” the conflict.

The Russian Embassy in Britain stated, “Bringing tanks into the conflict zone, far from ending hostilities, would only serve to intensify combat operations, causing more casualties including civilian populations”.

Sunak said the tanks were a sign of Britain’s “ambition to intensify our support to Ukraine”, according to a readout of a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ukraine’s European allies have sent more than 300 modern Soviet tanks to Kyiv since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

But they have so far refrained from sending Western-made heavy tanks, which Ukraine has repeatedly requested to push against the Russian invaders.

Zelensky thanked the UK on Twitter for making a decision that “will not only strengthen us on the battlefield, but also send the right signal to other partners”.

huge loss
Ukraine’s army has suffered heavy losses in the battles for Soledar and Bakhmut in recent months and has called on the country’s allies to give it more support.

Russia said on Friday that its forces had regained control of the war-torn town of Soledar in eastern Ukraine, its first claim of victory in months of battlefield setbacks, although Ukraine said fierce fighting was still ongoing.

“We need more military equipment, heavy equipment, to win this war,” said Andrey Ermak, head of Ukraine’s presidential office.

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also said that he had spoken with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and “emphasized the need” for Ukraine to receive Western-type tanks.

Sunak’s formal offer follows reports that he was preparing to sign off on sending four British Army Challenger 2 main battle tanks to Eastern Europe immediately, with eight more to arrive shortly thereafter.

The Prime Minister’s Office has not yet confirmed the exact number of tanks being sent to Kyiv.

seize the moment
A Downing Street spokesman said Sunak and Zelensky agreed on the “need to seize the moment” after the Ukraine victory to “push back Russian troops”.

“The prime minister underlined the UK’s ambition to intensify our support to Ukraine through the provision of Challenger 2 tanks and additional artillery systems,” the spokesman said.

The issue of heavy tanks has long been important to Kyiv and many experts see providing modern tanks as a key building block in Ukraine’s ability to win against Russia.

Germany in particular has been hesitant to supply heavy tanks.

This provided powerful mobile artillery and air defence, but with Moscow fearing escalation if its tanks faced off directly against their Russian opposite numbers.

A Downing Street spokesman said that Sunak and Zelensky “welcomed other international commitments, including Poland’s offer to provide a company of Leopard tanks”.

“The prime minister stressed that he and the whole of the UK government are working closely with international partners to rapidly deliver the kind of support that will allow Ukraine to win its gains, win this war and achieve lasting peace.” will help you achieve it.”

The UK announcement comes ahead of a meeting next week of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which coordinates arms supplies to Kyiv, at Germany’s Ramstein air base.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and was auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)