A new Russian offensive appears to be imminent – that’s why Ukraine says it needs as many tanks as possible
This is the most significant American package of weaponry to Ukraine since the Russians invaded.
The numbers are staggering – financially and in terms of the pieces of military hardware that the Americans are giving away.
The cost is some $2.5bn (£2bn). It includes 59 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, 90 Stryker Armoured Fighting Vehicles and 350 Humvees – the large 4×4 vehicle and an icon of the US Army. There are also over 21,000 artillery rounds of different types and much more beyond.
Missing from the list though – tanks. This is what the Ukrainian military say they so desperately need if they are to defeat the Russians and not just hold the frontlines.
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Why won’t the Americans supply their main battle tank, the M1 Abrams? Well, ostensibly it’s because of supply chain and maintenance issues. It’s true that it’s 10 or so tonnes heavier than European equivalents and geography makes its deployment and maintenance that much harder.
But there are lingering American concerns over provoking Vladimir Putin too much – where, policymakers in Washington ask, are his red lines?
There is confusion and frustration among military sources I have spoken to over why the Biden administration can’t just hand over a few tanks to unlock the German impasse and to up the Ukrainian numbers if only by a handful.
The criticism is that the Americans are consistently providing only enough weapons to sustain the war, but not enough to bring it to an end with a Ukrainian victory.
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Do some American policymakers see a strategic opportunity in prolonging the war to grind down the Russian military and Mr Putin himself?
One other related development – the CIA director was in Kyiv over the past few days meeting the Ukrainian leadership.
Britain has sent Challenger 2 Tanks to be used in Ukraine
Beyond tanks, the discussion would have focussed on what Mr Putin has planned for the weeks and months ahead.
Remember, a year ago, American intelligence was spot on when the CIA warned repeatedly that Ukraine was about to be invaded. Many doubted Mr Putin would actually do it. But he did.
The suggestion is that a new Russian offensive is imminent.
That’s why the Ukrainians on the frontline say they need as many tanks as possible.
Ukraine’s leadership is worried about Western fatigue over Ukraine. From my perspective in Washington, it’s certainly true that there’s growing unease among Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill with what they consider to be an unaudited and seemingly endless weapons flow to Ukraine.
World
Ukraine war: 14 killed as Russian missile and drone attacks strike Kyiv – including American citizen
Russian missile and drone attacks have killed 14 people in Kyiv overnight, according to Ukrainian officials.
A 62-year-old US citizen who suffered shrapnel wounds is among the dead.
At least 99 others were wounded in strikes that hollowed out a residential building and destroyed dozens of apartments.
Pic: AP
Emergency workers were at the scene to rescue people from under the rubble.
Images show a firefighter was among those hurt, with injured residents evacuated from their homes.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as “one of the most terrifying attacks on Kyiv” – and said Russian forces had fired 440 drones and 32 missiles as civilians slept in their homes.
“[Putin] wants the war to go on,” he said. “It is troubling when the powerful of this world turn a blind eye to it.”
Pic: AP
Ukraine’s interior minister, Ihor Klymenko, said 27 locations across the capital have been hit – including educational institutions and critical infrastructure.
He claimed the attack, in the early hours of Tuesday morning, was one of the largest on the capital since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Drones swarmed over the city, with an air raid alert remaining in force for seven hours.
One person was killed and 17 others injured as a result of separate Russian drone strikes in the port city of Odesa.
Pic: Reuters
It comes as the G7 summit in Canada continues, which Ukraine’s leader is expected to attend.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy was due to hold talks with Donald Trump – but the president has announced he is unexpectedly returning to Washington because of tensions in the Middle East.
Ukraine’s foreign minister says Moscow’s decision to attack Kyiv during the summit is a signal of disrespect to the US.
Moscow has launched a record number of drones and missiles in recent weeks, and says the attacks are in retaliation for a Ukrainian operation that targeted warplanes in airbases deep within Russian territory.
Kyiv’s mayor Vitali Klitschko says fires broke out in two of the city’s districts as a result of debris from drones shot down by the nation’s air defences.
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Pic: AP
On X, Ukraine’s foreign ministry wrote: “Russia’s campaign of terror against civilians continues. Its war against Ukraine escalates with increased brutality.
“The only way to stop Russia is tighter pressure – through sanctions, more defence support for Ukraine, and limiting Russia’s ability to keep sowing war.”
Olena Lapyshnak, who lived in one of the destroyed buildings, said: “It’s horrible, it’s scary, in one moment there is no life. I can only curse the Russians, that’s all I can say. They shouldn’t exist in this world.”
World
Israeli tank shelling kills 51 people waiting for aid in Khan Younis, Hamas-run health ministry says
Israeli tank shellfire has killed at least 51 Palestinians in Khan Younis, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.
Hundreds of others have been injured, with “dozens of critical cases” arriving at a medical complex.
It is feared that the number of fatalities will rise.
Pic: Reuters
The strikes took place as people waited for United Nations and commercial aid trucks in the southern Gaza city.
Witnesses said that Israeli forces carried out an airstrike on a nearby home before opening fire toward the crowd.
“Emergency, intensive care, and operating rooms are experiencing severe overcrowding,” a statement said.
Officials say medical staff “are operating with limited supplies of life-saving medicines” – with the ministry renewing an “urgent appeal” to increase aid.
Pic: Reuters
Hours earlier, Donald Trump had joined other G7 leaders to call for a “de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza”.
The Israeli military is yet to comment on this incident.
On Monday, Gaza’s health ministry said at least 34 people were shot dead near food distribution centres.
This was the highest reported daily total since Israel and US-backed aid centres opened last month, with thousands of Palestinians moving through Israeli military-controlled areas to reach them.
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