After months of hesitation, the US and Germany reportedly plan to send tanks to Ukraine, in what Kyiv hopes will be a game changer on the battlefield.
US President Joe Biden’s administration is expected to announce plans to send at least 30 M1 Abrams tanks.
German Chancellor Olaf Schulz has also reportedly decided to send at least 14 Leopard 2 tanks.
Russia’s ambassador to the US called the news “another blatant provocation”.
Ukrainian officials have said such shipments could help its forces retake territory from the Russians.
So far, the US and Germany have resisted internal and external pressure to send tanks to Ukraine.
Washington cited the extensive training and maintenance required for the high-tech Abrams.
Berlin has expressed caution about NATO becoming a direct party to a war with Russia.
Citing anonymous sources, US media outlets are reporting that an announcement regarding the Abrams’ deployment to Ukraine could come as soon as Wednesday.
At least 30 vehicles could be sent, citing unnamed officials.
However, the timeline for any potential delivery remains unclear, and it could take months or even years for US combat vehicles to reach the front lines.
According to US media reports, German officials had privately insisted that they would only agree to transfer the Leopard 2 to Ukraine if the US also sent the M1 Abrams.
“If the Germans keep saying we’ll send or leave the Cheetahs only on the terms that the Americans send the Abrams, then we should send the Abrams,” Democratic Senator Chris Coons, a Biden ally, told Politico on Tuesday.
Britain has already said it will send Challenger Two tanks to Ukraine.
Poland said this week it wants to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, but they are made in Germany and so Berlin needs to approve their export.
According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, at least 16 European and NATO countries have 2 Leopard tanks.
Not all will send tanks to Ukraine – but Mr Schulz’s apparent decision means they can if they want to.
