It will take some time before the 31 Abrams tanks that the United States supplies to Ukraine can be used on the battlefield. Tanks are very complicated. “The US Department of Defense and other experts have warned that it could take months for tanks to be deployed, and some say even a year,” says US correspondent Jan Postma.
A lot is possible in a war, says Postma. So maybe it could be a little faster then. But the thing is, there’s a lot to fix before those tanks can be used.” US President Joe Biden said in a speech that Ukrainians will be trained in the use and maintenance of tanks as soon as possible. “It’s very complicated.” Spare parts must also be sent to Ukraine. And it has to be examined whether it is possible to bring enough fuel to the right places in Ukraine to use the tanks. “Because the tanks run on kerosene and of course you can’t get it from the pump. And this is even more difficult in a country at war,’ says Postma.
Germany
Biden announced yesterday that he would send tanks to Ukraine, the pledge coming the same day German Chancellor Olaf Scholz agreed to supply Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. Scholz had the condition that he would give permission for the delivery of German tanks if the Americans sent Abrams tanks to Ukraine. Biden said this is not why US tanks will be delivered. He said it’s really his own decision.’
Postma itself doubts this. “We know that there have been many consultations in recent weeks. And that the United States had many doubts about sending these tanks, because the use is not practical at all. Furthermore, the US prefers to keep advanced equipment, such as these tanks, out of Russian hands. But now America has something to do with it. And it’s almost inevitable that Scholz played a part in that.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened Germany, among others, if it is promised to deliver the tanks to Ukraine. Biden said Russia shouldn’t take tanks as a provocation. And that these tanks are only for the protection of Ukraine.”
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
