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Britain is to ship Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine to bolster the warfare effort in opposition to invading Russian forces.
Further artillery assist can also be to be despatched by the UK to help the Kyiv authorities within the face of Kremlin aggression.
The announcement comes after Sky Information solely revealed the UK was considering supplying Ukraine with British tanks for the primary time.
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The transfer makes the UK the primary Western energy to produce the Ukrainians with principal battle tanks.
UK authorities insiders mentioned the choice needed to be made now so as to guarantee Ukrainian troopers may very well be educated in methods to use the superior fight autos earlier than the upcoming spring offensive.
Ministers hope the announcement will encourage different allies to comply with go well with.
Following a name between Rishi Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday, a Quantity 10 spokesperson mentioned the 2 leaders had agreed on the “have to seize on this second” after Ukrainian victories had “pushed Russian troops again”.
The spokesperson added: “The prime minister outlined the UK’s ambition to accentuate our assist to Ukraine, together with by way of the availability of Challenger 2 tanks and extra artillery programs.
“The prime minister pressured that he and the entire UK authorities could be working intensively with worldwide companions to ship quickly the type of assist which is able to permit Ukraine to press their benefit, win this warfare and safe a long-lasting peace.”
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Mr Zelenskyy tweeted: “All the time robust assist of the UK is now impenetrable and prepared for challenges. In a dialog with the prime minister, I thanked for the selections that won’t solely strengthen us on the battlefield, but in addition ship the precise sign to different companions.”
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Labour’s shadow defence secretary John Healey mentioned: “Fashionable tanks are essential to Ukraine’s efforts to win its battle in opposition to Russian aggression.
“The federal government has Labour’s fullest backing for army help to Ukraine.
“However ministers should transfer past advert hoc bulletins and set out a plan for army, financial and diplomatic assist by way of 2023 and past.
“As the primary anniversary of Russia’s invasion approaches, this may assist reassure Ukrainians that Britain will stand with them for so long as it takes and sign to Putin that issues will worsen not higher for Russia.”
Preventing energy
Earlier this week, Western officers warned Ukraine wouldn’t have the ability to take again vital territory from Russia with out a rise in preventing energy, together with tanks and different heavy armour.
The US has promised 50 Bradley tank-killing armoured autos in its largest army help bundle up to now for Ukraine.
Germany additionally introduced it could provide round 40 Marder armoured personnel carriers and France promised wheeled AMX-10 RC tank destroyers.
Ukraine has lengthy requested the mass-produced, German-made Leopard II tanks, utilized by a number of European allies, together with Germany, Poland, Finland, the Netherlands and Spain.
Warsaw and Helsinki have already signalled a willingness to produce their Leopard tanks to Kyiv however this requires approval from Berlin as a result of Germany holds the export licence.
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Final 12 months, the UK despatched 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Poland as a part of a deal to assist Ukraine by liberating up capability for Warsaw to produce its Soviet-era T-72 tanks to Kyiv.
In service since 1994, the Challenger 2 tank weighs 62.5 tonnes and is armed with a 120mm rifled gun and a 7.62mm chain gun.
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