President Joe Biden has approved the delivery of 31 M1 Abrams tanks to the war-torn nation of Ukraine, marking a significant expansion of American assistance in that

President Joe Biden has approved the delivery of 31 M1 Abrams tanks to the war-torn nation of Ukraine, marking a significant expansion of American assistance in that nation as worries of a new Russian offensive this spring grow.

With Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken by his side, Biden spoke on Wednesday from the Roosevelt Room of the White House. "Secretary [Lloyd] Austin has recommended this step because it will enhance Ukraine's capacity to defend its territory and achieve its strategic objectives," Biden said.

In light of the impending first anniversary of Russia's invasion and the impending hard winter, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly pleaded for the addition of more tanks.

Political scheming had complicated Ukraine's request while Russia is allegedly getting ready for a spring offensive.

Pentagon officials have been publicly stating for weeks that the Abrams tanks are not appropriate for the conflict in Ukraine, in part due to the fuel they require to operate. However, officials did not completely rule out the prospect of the cars in the long run.

Poland was the most vociferous of the 12 NATO countries that have Leopard 2s to deploy to Ukraine, and it appears that the U.S. transfer of Abrams tanks prompted Germany to approve the transfer of German-made Leopard 2s to Ukraine.

At the White House, Biden declared, "We remain as committed and unified to our conviction and our cause as ever. "These tanks serve as additional proof of our steadfast, unwavering commitment to Ukraine and our faith in the ability of the Ukrainian military. When President Zelenskyy visited us in December, I assured him, "Mr. President, we're with you for as long as it takes.

A U.S. official informed reporters in a conference call earlier on Wednesday that 31 Abrams tanks are a definite number since they make up one Ukrainian tank battalion. We expressly meet that condition, then.

Although U.S. officials separately acknowledged the new vehicles won't arrive for months, Biden claimed the US is also promising to educate Ukrainians so they will be ready to incorporate the Abram tanks into their defenses.

The transfer of European tanks is set to be more expedient.

"The world's most effective tanks are the Abrams ones. We are also providing Ukraine with the parts and tools required to effectively sustain these tanks on the battlefield because they are also very difficult to use and repair. And as soon as practicable, we'll start instructing the Ukrainian military on these sustainment, logistical, and maintenance topics "added Biden.

The administration was considering sending the Abrams tanks to Ukraine as part of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, administration officials told ABC News on Tuesday. That indicates that the United States will negotiate a contract for the tanks' production with the company, delaying the vehicles' deployment for up to a year.

On Wednesday, Biden confirmed the extended timeline, which government officials had said could take "months, as opposed to weeks."

"Delivering these tanks to the field is going to take time," the president said.

Early on Wednesday, Germany announced it would grant requests from dozens of other nations to provide Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. Additionally, the United Kingdom has pledged to deploy 12 of its own Challenger 2 battle tanks, while Poland has asked Germany for permission to contribute its supply of Leopard armor.

The president claimed to have discussed the battle in Wednesday morning calls with the leaders of France and Germany, as well as Italy's Giorgia Meloni and the United Kingdom's Rishi Sunak.

"I'm grateful to Chancellor Scholz for providing German Leopard 2 tanks and will lead an effort to organize the European contribution of two tank battalions for Ukraine," Biden said. "Germany has really stepped up. The chancellor has been a strong, strong voice for unity, a close friend, and for the level of effort we're gonna continue."

In response to questions regarding the timing of this choice and whether Germany "forced you to change your mind" about sending tanks, a move that the Pentagon had previously opposed, Biden defended the action as a coordinated one.

"I wasn't made to change my views by Germany. We wanted to make sure that everyone was present. We have been planning to do that all along, and we are currently doing that " he said.

On Wednesday, U.S. officials stated that the latest supply of tanks minimizes the differences between the U.S. and Germany on the utility of the Abrams vehicles by demonstrating the unity of all allies supporting Ukraine.

Biden approves sending 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine

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