Britain will send “double” the number of Challenger 2 tanks originally promised to Ukraine, the UK ambassador has said. Vadym Prystaiko, in an interview with the European broadcaster Radio Liberty, said that the UK Government had decided to double the promise of main battle tanks after the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky visited London.
Mr. Prystaiko said: “We were promised 14 tanks and as a result of President Zelensky’s visit, it was agreed that this number will double.”
He said the moment Britain promised to send the tanks was a “disappointing” moment because it was “necessary to move all other allies”.
Towards the end of February, a few weeks after Britain pledged the tanks to Ukraine, the US and then Germany pledged several battalions of their more sophisticated main battle tanks.
“At this time, the British were trying to convince the other allies that there were two options: either the UK goes ahead with this news alone and makes the break this everyone else has to join, or let’s take this very important step all together. as one front, as NATO,” said the ambassador.
“The UK was successful this time. I think the same process is happening now with fighter jets.”
The Ministry of Defense said that there are currently no plans to increase the number of tanks beyond the agreed number of 14, although the defense secretary previously said that Britain was open to expanding it.
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