US sends tanks to Ukraine – NRK Urix – Foreign news and documentaries

There has long been tension over whether the Americans would send advanced tanks into Ukraine. It’s about 31 M1 Abrams tanks. Ukrainian tank battalion.

Biden said this would enhance the Ukrainians’ ability to maneuver in open terrain.

– This is extremely important for Ukraine, says Joe Biden, who added that the United States will provide training for Ukrainian forces.

– This is not a threat to Russia, but about Ukraine’s ability to defend itself. Biden said we cannot accept the violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty.

The handover could take place in a few months, Biden went on, and training of Ukrainian forces could begin as soon as possible. The Pentagon was previously skeptical because tanks are expensive, advanced, and require significant training.

Biden’s press conference comes after it became clear that Germany would send 14 advanced Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. The tank is known to have tremendous hitting power.

Germany sends Leopard 2 tanks

A government spokesman said that after hesitating for several weeks, Germany had not only decided to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, but would also allow other countries to do so.

In the first place, Germany sends 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. The goal is to send two battalions, that is, up to 100 tanks.

Germany will provide ammunition and training for the Ukrainians.

– This decision follows our well-known line of supporting Ukraine to the best of our ability. An announcement by Prime Minister Olaf Scholz says: We are closely coordinating this internationally.

Norway has also decided to send some of its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

Stoltenberg: – He could win

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomes President Joe Biden’s decision to send Abrams tanks to Ukraine.

– NATO allies stand together to support Ukraine’s self-defense, Stoltenberg wrote in a message on Twitter.

– Together with the shipments of the British Challenger and the German Leopard 2, this could make a huge difference in the ability to defeat Russia, the NATO chief continues.

Remarks by NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg after Germany announced the news of the Leopard 2 dispatch indicate that the defense alliance has taken this risk carefully. Clearly, NATO has switched to a new course, not fearing what appears to be a weak Russia.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that German tanks can help Ukraine win.

– These tanks will be able to help Ukraine defend itself, win the war, and emerge again as an independent country, says Stoltenberg.

According to Norwegian Lieutenant Colonel Geir Hagen Carlsen, Director of the Staff School, the large-scale military aid that has now been announced is a continuation of a trend we have seen for a long time.

– The dawn of war appeared on the Western leaders. The worse and more brutal Russia gets, Hagen Carlsen tells NRK, the more and heavier weapons Ukraine will get.

A few days ago, the US authorities announced another new deal of arms and ammunition to Ukraine, worth $2.5 billion. The set of weapons consists, among other things, of 59 Bradley combat vehicles, a large number of armored personnel carriers, the Avenger air defense system, as well as several different types of ammunition.

Of great importance for Ukraine

Ukraine has already received many old but modern tanks from Western countries. Leopard 2 will give Ukraine a completely different offensive force to penetrate Russian lines on the battlefield.

The announcement of the tanks from both Germany and the United States comes on the same day as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s birthday. He turns 45 on Wednesday, Biden could say at his news conference.

The Chair thanked the support on Twitter and said this was an important step on the road to the remarks.

President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andrei Germak, welcomes Germany’s decision, but wants 300 tanks in total.

– The first step has now been taken. Next up is Alliance of Tanks. Jermak says: We need many Panthers.

Putin is not shy

Russia described Germany’s decision to send tanks to Ukraine as “very dangerous”.

– This dangerous decision brings the conflict to a new level of confrontation and is in stark contrast to the statements of German politicians that Germany will not be drawn in, Russia’s ambassador to Berlin Sergei Nechaev said in an announcement.

The Russian ambassador in Berlin claims that the German government, by its decision, has abandoned its historical responsibility towards Russia, referring to the war crimes committed by the German Nazi regime against Russia during World War II.

President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier on Wednesday that the decision to send the tanks had failed and that the West was overestimating its “potential”.

– These tanks, like all others, will burn. He said it was too expensive and it was the European taxpayers who had to foot the bill.

According to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, he also says that the situation in the world, especially in Europe, is very worrying.

He’s exceptionally tense. And with the line chosen by the US-led NATO, there are no signs of a breakthrough.

Other countries are ready to follow suit

Britain and Poland, which have already decided to send tanks to Ukraine, welcome Germany’s decision. Poland and Great Britain will send 14 tanks each.

The Netherlands and Spain say they are ready to deliver tanks to Ukraine if Ukraine wants it, while France is currently content with sending lighter armored vehicles.

But with the delivery of the Leopard 2, NATO and Germany are sending a clear signal today. It might cause more people to follow suit. Spain says it is open to Leopard 2 deliveries.

– Spain is ready to cooperate with our allies, whether that means sending Leopard 2 or helping with training or maintenance, Defense Minister Margarita Robles tells Spanish television.