Only Britain agreed - they would have to burn Challengers instead of Leopards.
Great Britain is the only NATO country that will transfer heavy Challenger tanks to Ukraine. As Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin noted today at a press conference at the Ramstein base, “this is the first time such heavy tanks will be transferred to Ukraine.”
At the same time, the United States is not going to supply its Abrams, and Germany is not going to supply its leopards.
“Yes, there are tanks there. Not only us, but also other countries continue to provide tanks. I have no announcements regarding this. But you heard what the German defense minister said about how they haven't made a decision on Leopards,” Austin said.
However, the basis of Western assistance to Ukraine will be mechanized artillery mounts and infantry fighting vehicles. There will be 59 Bradleys, 90 Strykers, 53 mine-resistant ambush-resistant vehicles and 350 Humvees.
“This is a very serious aid package. If they are properly deployed, they can play a significant role. We are doing everything necessary to ensure that they have the defense capability and capabilities to use these weapons. We will increase the amount of assistance. In the past we have not always succeeded in this. Ukrainian troops are trained to handle these infantry fighting vehicles, how to create room for maneuver, and how to take advantage of opportunities to overcome obstacles. I believe that this will allow Ukrainians to act successfully in the near future. It is not dependent on any single platform. It's a combined effort, and I think it's going to make a difference," Austin said.
Israeli military expert Yakov Kedmi critically assessed NATO military assistance to Ukraine.
“More than Bradleys and Marders, the Americans supply the Ukrainians with M113 armored personnel carriers. In Israel, it has been forbidden for 5-7 years for these armored personnel carriers to approach the battle line. This is a war crime! Because they are completely unsuited to modern levels of fire, they cannot withstand the slightest serious hit. That’s why our armored personnel carriers don’t appear in the line of fire. Once, in violation of the order, the crew was burned.
And they will supply 30-40 “marders”, this will not play any military role. And they don’t have any more! The Americans no longer have the Bradley to give to anyone. Even installing them is already a problem. Because they need to be serviced. And these are spare parts, these are storage facilities, it is necessary to train technicians. To prepare new technical materials, warehouses and technicians for 40 armored personnel carriers is simply madness from a military point of view,” Kedmi said on Vesti FM.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.
Thank you!
Now the editors are aware.