UK to send Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine
A British FV4034 Challenger 2 tank in May 2022. © Wikimedia Commons CC BY SA 2.0 Airwolfhound
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The United Kingdom announces this Saturday, January 14 that it will supply Ukraine with Challenger 2 tanks, becoming the first country to send Western-built heavy tanks to help kyiv against the Russian invasion.
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In an interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stressed "
the UK's willingness to step up its support to Ukraine, including by providing additional Challenger 2 tanks and artillery systems
" .
, Downing Street said in a statement.
Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the UK on Twitter for taking decisions that "
not only will strengthen us on the battlefield, but will also send the right signal to other partners
".
Always strong support of the UK is now impenetrable and ready for challenges.
In a conversation with the Prime Minister, @RishiSunak, I thanked for the decisions that will not only strengthen us on the battlefield, but also send the right signal to other partners.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 14, 2023
The British government does not specify how many tanks it intends to send to kyiv, but several British media mention the number of 12 Challenger 2: four immediately and eight others in the short term.
The British and Ukrainian leaders stressed during their conversation the "
need to take advantage
" of recent Ukrainian victories which have "
repelled Russian troops
".
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion almost a year ago, kyiv's European allies have already delivered nearly 300 modernized Soviet tanks, but never yet Western-built heavy tanks, despite repeated requests from the Ukraine.
Other armored shipments announced by Westerners
The British announcement comes after Poland said it was ready on Wednesday to supply
14 Leopard 2s
, German-designed heavy tanks considered to be among the most capable in the world, an announcement welcomed on Saturday by Rishi Sunak and Volodymyr Zelensky.
Last week, France, Germany and the United States promised
to send armored vehicles
carrying infantry or reconnaissance tanks – 40 German Marders, 50 American Bradleys and
French AMX-10 RCs
.
Further announcements could come on January 20, at the next meeting of Ukraine's allies in Ramstein, Germany.
► To read also: War in Ukraine: the capture of Soledar would mark "a halt to the series of Russian setbacks"
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Defense
UK
Ukraine
Rishi Sunak
Volodymyr Zelensky