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01/25/2023

WaPo Ukraine Live Briefing:

Germany, U.S. to send battle tanks to embattled region

Today, Berlin announced plans to send German-made Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine after weeks of international pressure. Germany will send 14 tanks from its own military stocks and begin training Ukrainian forces on German territory, the government said, adding that it would also "issue the appropriate transfer permits" enabling other European nationsto re-export their Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

The decision came as the Biden administration also announced it would provide 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, despite previous concerns that they might require too much training and maintenance for Ukrainian forces.

"To liberate their land, they need to be able to counter Russia's evolving tactics and strategy on the battlefield in the very near term," President Joe Biden said of the Ukrainians in remarks at the White House. He was flanked by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken as he announced the Abrams deal on Wednesday, calling the vehicles "the most capable of tanks in the world."

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Washington Post.

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