German Leopard II, US Abrams battle tanks to Ukraine

Colombo (News 1st) - The German government has decided to supply Ukraine with Leopard II main battle tanks, while the U.S. government will provide its Abrams main battle tanks as well, multiple media outlets in the United States and Germany reported.

Germany has been under intense pressure from other NATO nations to allow them to send their German-made Leopard II tanks to Ukraine, which requires the permission of the German government, and also for Germany to directly supply tanks to Ukraine. As Germany appeared hesitant in recent weeks, U.S. media reported that the Pentagon would be supplying Abrams tanks.

The was no immediate confirmation from either the U.S. or German governments. 

Ukraine has asked for 300 main battle tanks to spearhead an offensive to drive Russian forces completely from Ukrainian soil. While it will not receive anything close to that number, the likely supply of U.S. tanks and Leopard tanks from Germany and several other NATO nations may see it receive up to 100 tanks within a few months, defense analysts said.

Russia has vast superiority in battle tanks. But both Russia and Ukraine have Soviet-era battle tanks which are inferior to the Leopard II and Abrams in weight, gunpower and armour.

Last week the U.S. State Department announced USD 2.5 billion more in military aid to Ukraine, bringing the total military aid supplied in the 11-month-old war to USD 27.5 billion. The latest package includes Stryker armored personnel carriers, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled vehicles, Avenger air defense systems, and surface-to-air missiles.