The president of Ukraine thanked Western leaders for sending tanks to aid in the fight against Russia but emphasized that the tanks must be delivered swiftly.
Volodymyr Zelensky urged the West to send long-range missiles and fighter jets in his nightly address.
His remarks followed the United States and Germany’s announcement that they would send Abrams and Leopard tanks to Ukraine.
Russia condemned the announcement as a “blatant provocation” and threatened to destroy any tanks supplied.
The tanks would “burn like the rest,” said Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin. They are simply quite pricey.
Mr. Zelensky stated that he conveyed to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that “progress must be made in other sectors of our defense cooperation” – with Ukraine wanting long-range missile and artillery supply.
“We must construct such a tank force, such a freedom force, that after it strikes, tyranny will never again rise.” He demanded, in addition to the timely supply of Western tanks in large numbers.
After acquiring the tanks, Mr. Zelensky may focus on arming the Ukrainian air force with more advanced fighter jets. However, many Western nations continue to oppose such a move out of concern that the aircraft could be used to strike targets within Russia.
In his Wednesday speech to the Bundestag in Berlin explaining the details of the tank proposal. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated that “no fighter jets will be delivered to Ukraine.”
Zelensky wants Western tanks fast
President Biden announced the shipment of 31 M1 Abrams battle tanks to Ukraine on Wednesday.
The tanks were delivered hours after Germany announced it would send 14 Leopard 2 tanks to the Ukrainian theatre.
Additionally, Berlin made it possible for other European nations to donate German-built tanks from their stocks.
Ukraine has been lobbying Western partners for months to deploy the weaponry.
It hailed the dual declarations as a turning point that would enable its forces to restore momentum and reclaim occupied territory nearly a year after the invasion by Moscow.
It further stated that the tanks may hinder a hypothetical Russian spring offensive.
US President Joe Biden, in announcing the decision to deploy tanks on the battlefield, stated that Mr. Putin anticipated Europe and the United States to “weaken our resolve,” adding, “He was wrong from the start and he continues to be wrong.”
“We are also providing Ukraine with the required parts and equipment to efficiently maintain these tanks in battle,” he said.
“This pertains to assisting Ukraine in defending and protecting its territory. It poses no provocative risk to Russia.”
Mr. Biden noted that a typical Ukrainian tank battalion consists of 31 tanks. Which is why that number was agreed upon.
The Biden administration has maintained for some time that the large M1 Abrams tanks would be difficult to supply, costly to maintain, and difficult for Ukrainian forces to operate.
