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The British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has confirmed on Saturday during a phone call with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky that they will send “Challenger 2 tanks and additional artillery systems.”
Both the Prime Minister and President Zelensky agreed that there needs to be “an acceleration of global military support” to Ukraine.
By sending the British Challenger 2 tanks this will break the deadlock as currently the ratios between both Moscow and Kyiv are “too finely balanced” on the battlefield.
A Downing Street spokesperson said, “The leaders reflected on the current state of Russia’s war in Ukraine, with successive Ukrainian victories pushing Russian troops back and compounding their military and morale issues.
“They agreed on the need to seize on this moment with an acceleration of global military and diplomatic support to Ukraine.
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“The prime minister outlined the UK’s ambition to intensify our support to Ukraine, including through the provision of Challenger 2 tanks and additional artillery systems.
“The prime minister and President Zelenskyy welcomed other international commitments in this vein, including Poland’s offer to provide a company of Leopard tanks.
“The prime minister stressed that he and the whole UK government would be working intensively with international partners to deliver rapidly the kind of support which will allow Ukraine to press their advantage, win this war and secure a lasting peace.”
Always strong support of the UK is now impenetrable and ready for challenges. In a conversation with the Prime Minister, @RishiSunak, I thanked for the decisions that will not only strengthen us on the battlefield, but also send the right signal to other partners.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 14, 2023
Poland has confirmed an “international coalition” and could send a company of Leopard 2 tanks, but Berlin must provide consent as they hold the licence exports.
However, Berlin have concerns that by sending the Leopard 2 tanks this could escalate the war.
Polish President Andrzej Duda said,”Recently, we really decided to transfer such support [tanks] to Ukraine from Poland.
“A company of Leopard tanks will be provided within the framework of the coalition,”
Duda added, “You know that it is necessary to obtain certain official agreements and consents.
“But first we need to create an international coalition. And we have decided to form this international coalition.”
Western officials said, “The Ukrainians won’t be unable to win back significant amounts of territory without changes to their force posture from last year.
“The force ratios between the Russians and the Ukrainians are too finely balanced,” the official said.
“Something needs to break that deadlock, especially if they (Ukraine) are to win territory back and go on the offensive. Main battle tanks and APCs (armoured personnel carriers) are part of that mix.
“I think the Ukrainians would look to all partners who might provide tanks won’t be particularly worried about where they come from just so long as they come in sufficient volume.”
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