Taking a cautious stance on supporting European tanks like Germany… Published on Zelensky’s birthday
It will take several months to reach India… Remove the line “I have no intention of attacking Russia”
The United States has decided to turn away from its cautious stance and provide tank support to Ukraine which is fighting against the Russian invasion.
As a result, the United States has more or less provided support for all the weapons systems that Ukraine has been seriously asking for, with the exception of fighter jets.
The US government’s announcement came at the same time that Germany and other European NATO members agreed to provide a number of tanks to Ukraine.
As Ukraine is expected to secure a large number of tanks with excellent mobility and firepower from the West, including the United States, attention is being paid to whether it will prepare a stepping stone to break the stalemate on the eastern front of Ukraine.
In a speech on the 25th (local time), US President Joe Biden said, “We will support 31 M1 Abrams tanks in Ukraine,” and “As soon as possible, we will start training Ukrainian forces (for the use of tanks) .”
Since the tank battalion of the Ukrainian Army is organized into 31 units, this is a tailored support for one battalion.
President Biden revealed the fact of the call with NATO leaders, including German Prime Minister Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron, the same morning and said, “We will continue to support Ukraine.
We are completely united,” he said.
“Aiding the defense of Ukraine is not an attack on Russia,” he said.
If Russian troops stay in Russia, this war will end today, and ending the war is what we want.”
“Putin would hope that the support of the United States and its allies would fade over time, but he was wrong,” he said. “It was wrong from start to finish.
We will unite,” he said.
The day support for the Abrams tank was announced was also Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s 45th birthday.
President Biden also mentioned this fact in his speech.
The US Army’s main tank, the Abrams, featured a 120mm main gun, a .50 caliber machine gun and a 7.62mm machine gun.
With a 1,500 horsepower gas turbine engine, it can travel at a top speed of 42 miles per hour (about 67 km).
The Abrams tank can use diesel, gasoline, or jet fuel as fuel, but it mainly uses jet oil, which is the most luxurious fuel, and the distance it can run with a full refill is not long, with a maximum of 265 miles (about 426 km).
Meanwhile, the United States has been reluctant to support the Abrams tank because it is expensive and difficult to control and operate, citing the fact that the jet fuel used by the tank is more difficult to acquire in Ukraine.
A high-ranking official explained that the Pentagon is preparing a plan to provide Ukraine with the fuel and equipment it needs to control and operate the tanks, along with providing eight M88 recovery tanks to remove broken tanks.
Military experts rate the Abrams better than the T-72, T-80 and T-90 tanks mainly used by Russia.
“We are proud to say that the Abrams tank is the best in the world,” said a senior officer.
However, a high-ranking official explained that it will take several months for Ukraine to receive actual tanks as the support is provided through the acquisition of new tanks, not US military stocks.
The US plans to first provide education and training to the Ukrainian military so they can master how to use tanks.
Ukraine is in the position that tanks are indispensable for launching a massive counter-attack at a time when a fierce war of attrition with Russia extends on the eastern front.
However, until recently, the US was passive in providing tanks, saying it was focused on providing weapons that Ukraine could use immediately.
In the middle of this, pressure from the alliance began, such as introducing the condition that the United States should also send an Abrams tank if Germany wants to support its own Leopard 2 tank.
As for why the United States is turning to tank support, a high-ranking official said, “As the warfare changes, the ability to support Ukraine evolves.”
/happy news
