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Biden announces he's sending 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine
From CNN's Kevin Liptak and Betsy Klein
President Biden announced Wednesday that he plans to send 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, reversing the administration’s longstanding resistance to requests from Kyiv for the highly sophisticated but maintenance-heavy vehicles.
The Abrams will take months to arrive, senior administration officials said, and will require extensive training for Ukrainian troops on how to operate and service them. The US must navigate complicated supply chains for the components required for the tanks.
As recently as last week, top US officials cited those obstacles as barriers to providing the vehicles to Ukraine. Yet after an intensive bout of diplomacy with Germany, who had made clear it would only send its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine if the United States offered up the Abrams, Biden has given the sign-off on sending the vehicles. The 31 Abrams will form a complete Ukrainian tank battalion.
“Abrams tanks are the best in the world. This is a tremendous new capability that Ukraine will be getting to boost its long term defenses," a senior administration official said, noting that the tanks will be procured through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funding.
Biden: US and Europe are fully united in support of Ukraine
From CNN's Aditi Sangal
Marking 11 months of Russia's war in Ukraine as of yesterday, US President Joe Biden said that he had a call with NATO allies to coordinate their support for Ukraine.
"The United States has worked in lockstep with our allies and partners around the world to make sure the Ukrainian people are in the strongest possible position to defend their nation, their families and against the brutal, truly brutal aggression of Russia."
Europe and the US are "fully united," he added, saying on his call with NATO leaders, they spoke about continuing "our close coordination and full support of Ukraine."
"The expectation on the part of Russia is we're going to break up. We're not going to stay united. But we are fully, thoroughly, totally united," he added.
NOW: Biden to announce US sending tanks to Ukraine
From CNN's Kevin Liptak and Betsy Klein
US President Joe Biden is speaking from the White House about continued support for Ukraine and is set to announce he plans to send 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, reversing the administration’s longstanding resistance to requests from Kyiv for the highly sophisticated but maintenance-heavy vehicles.
Biden spoke with the leaders of Germany, the UK, Italy and France prior to his remarks.
Germany earlier announced it would send Ukraine Leopard 2 tanks, while CNN reported yesterday that the US plans to send its M1 Abrams tanks to the country.
Leopard tanks "will significantly strengthen" Ukraine's combat capabilities, NATO chief says
NATO Security General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Germany’s announcement of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, telling CNN that it “will significantly strengthen their combat capabilities.”
"We have seen how the Russians are digging in and are building fortifications," Stoltenberg said. "If we want Ukraine to be able to both to defend against upcoming Russian offenses, we know the Russians are planning for new offenses, and also if we want Ukraine to be able to retake territory, we need to give them more armor, more heavy and modern weapons."
Berlin said it will provide a company of 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks from Bundeswehr stocks, with the training of the Ukrainian crews to begin quickly in Germany. In addition to training, the package will also include logistics, ammunition and maintenance of the systems.
Asked if the introduction of the Leopard tanks and reports that the US is finalizing its plans to send Abrams tanks will give Ukraine the capability to win, Stoltenberg said Western allies "need to provide even more support, not only to ensure that Ukraine survives but actually ensure that Ukraine is able to liberate more territory, win and prevail as a sovereign."
Biden spoke with other foreign leaders ahead of White House remarks on Ukraine
From CNN's Betsy Klein
US President Joe Biden spoke with his German, United Kingdom, Italian and French counterparts Wednesday morning, moments before he’s set to give remarks on continued support for Ukraine in the Roosevelt Room.
The White House said Biden spoke with President Macron of France, Chancellor Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Meloni of Italy, and Prime Minister Sunak of the United Kingdom "as part of our close coordination on support for Ukraine.”
Biden's remarks come after Germany confirmed it will send a long-demanded contingent of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and as CNN reports the US is finalizing plans to send US-made Abrams tanks to Ukraine.
Ukrainian defense minister says "more good news" to be announced following call with US counterpart
From CNN’s Sarah Dean in Kyiv
Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov had a phone call with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Wednesday, Reznikov tweeted.
“Discussed the results of #Ramstein 8, further strengthening of #UAarmy, including tanks supplies&maintenance of the new armament,” the Ukrainian official said, adding that “more good news” will be announced soon.
See the tweet:
Ukraine is in line to receive dozens of Leopard 2 tanks. Here’s what countries pledged so far
From CNN’s Jo Shelley, Mick Krever and Lauren Kent
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has called on allies in possession of German-made Leopard 2 tanks to send “as many of them as possible” now that Germany has said it will give Kyiv tanks from Berlin’s own inventory and approve their re-export from other countries to Ukraine.
An aide to Ukraine’s Presidential Administration Mykhailo Podolyak told CNN last week that Kyiv wanted “300 to 400 of these tanks,” which he said could, “sharply accelerate the tempo of the war and initiate the closing stages.”
CNN cannot confirm the total number of Leopard 2 tanks to be delivered, but pledges made by at least five countries mean the Ukrainian military is in line to receive dozens of the tanks.
Here’s a look at what countries have pledged so far:
Germany: Berlin has said it will provide 14 Leopard 2 tanks, which it described as “a first step."
Poland: A top foreign policy adviser to the Polish President has told CNN that Warsaw wanted to send “one company” of tanks. Marcin Przydacz, Head of the President’s International Policy Bureau, would not specify exactly how many tanks Poland intended to send but said that a company of tanks was usually made up of “between 10 and 14 Leopard 2 vehicles.”
The Netherlands: Prime Minister Mark Rutte told CNN affiliate RTL News on Wednesday that his government would “seriously consider” purchasing the 18 Leopard 2 tanks it leases from Germany and sending them to Ukraine. The Netherlands doesn’t own any of the tanks.
Norway: Two Oslo-based newspapers reported on Tuesday that the Norwegian government was considering whether to send some of its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, according to Reuters. Dagens Naeringsliv reported that Norway might contribute between 4 and 8 of the country’s 36 Leopard 2 tanks. The Norwegian defense minister told CNN: “We do not wish to comment on these deliberations or any ongoing or future contributions.”
Spain: Defense Minister Margarita Robles has said Madrid is willing to send some of its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, Spanish state news agency EFE reported Wednesday. However Robles said it was not immediately possible to determine how many of the tanks might be sent.
In addition to the Leopard 2s, the US is finalizing plans to send approximately 30 Abrams main battle tanks to Ukraine, two US officials familiar with the deliberations told CNN on Tuesday.
The UK has already announced it will send 12 of their Challenger 2 tanks to aid the Ukrainian offensive.
CNN's Claudia Otto, Antonia Mortensen and Al Goodman contributed reporting to this post.
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