The United States is preparing for the official announcement of the delivery of American-made M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. This information was confirmed by a representative of the Joe Biden administration in an interview with a media correspondent on Tuesday.
Most likely, the tanks will be purchased under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), meaning they will not be removed from the Pentagon’s arsenal, the source added.
Two administration sources also told Reuters. The decision came just days after Washington objected to sending the Abrams despite demands from Kiev and pressure on Berlin to send German-made Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine .
A third source close to the situation said that the United States could deliver around 30 Abrams tanks in the coming months.
Officials who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity said the announcement could be made as early as Wednesday, January 25.
Reuters sources also said the Abrams would likely be acquired through the USAI fund.
A source said the Biden administration could use the USAI to buy Abrams previously acquired from allies, refurbish them and send them to Ukraine. This process, according to Reuters, can take months or even years.
Ukraine says Western battle tanks equipped with heavy armor will give its troops greater mobility and greater protection against the new Russian offensive that Kiev expects in the near future. The new tanks could also help Ukraine regain some of the territory occupied by Moscow.
Administration officials have said in the past that Abrams are difficult to maintain and take a long time to learn how to operate, citing another drawback – the need to use jet fuel, which is not the best alternative under current conditions.
A Pentagon spokesman on Tuesday declined to confirm whether Washington would provide tanks to Ukraine, echoing earlier claims about difficulties in using the Abrams.
“The M1 (Abrams) is a complex and difficult-to-maintain military vehicle. It was true yesterday, it is true today and it will be true in the future,” Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder told reporters.
“We continue to discuss with the Ukrainians and our allies and partners Ukraine’s medium and long-term defense needs,” Ryder added.
The US easing came the same day sources said Germany would send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine to help repel a Russian invasion and enable other countries like Poland to follow suit.
A source familiar with the matter said the decision was made by Washington in a conversation with Berlin over its reluctance to provide tanks to Ukraine to demonstrate the seriousness of the US commitment.
“The United States was prepared to make significant commitments to help [Germany] by creating their own [law of obligations], the source said. “Tanks are an important asset, and if it requires American leadership, that’s what we were prepared to do.”
