Britain is considering supplying Ukraine with British tanks for the first time to fight against invading Russian forces, according to Sky News.
Discussions over the delivery of a number of the British Army’s Challenger 2 main battle tank to the Ukrainian armed forces have been underway “for several weeks,” a Western source with knowledge of the talks said. .
The move would mark a major step in Western support for Ukraine and could help prompt other NATO allies, particularly Germany, to follow suit.
Russia’s military bloggers slammed Kremlin’s ‘fictitious’ claim: Ukraine’s latest
“I would encourage others to donate tanks,” said a Ukrainian source.
Rishi Sunak’s government has yet to make a final decision, but if the UK approves the delivery it would become the first nation to respond to calls from Ukrainian leaders to equip its military with powerful Western tanks.
A US-led group of about 50 nations, including Britain, which is providing military support to Ukraine, will hold its next meeting on January 20. Any announcements about new aid, such as tanks, could be made to coincide with the Contact Group meeting.
One source suggested that Britain could offer around 10 Challenger 2 tanks, enough to equip a squadron.
The source said that in itself would not be a “game changer” but would still be very important because the move would break a barrier that has so far prevented allies from offering Western tanks to Ukraine for fear of being seen as too escalating for part of the source Russia
That could prompt other allies to do the same, sources said.
“It will be a good precedent to demonstrate [to] others, in Germany in the first place, with their Leopards … and Abrams from the United States,” the Ukrainian source said.
Image: Ukraine has long ordered German-made Leopard II tanks
Read more: Why is Bakhmut so important to Russia? Putin’s ceasefire is useful for another reason. CCTV shows moment Russian soldiers raid children’s orphanage
Germany more cautious
Ukraine has long requested the German mass-produced Leopard II tanks, which are used by several European allies, including Germany, Poland, Finland, the Netherlands and Spain.
Warsaw and Helsinki have already expressed a willingness to supply their Leopard tanks to Kyiv, but this requires Berlin’s approval because Germany holds the export license.
Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, has taken a more cautious approach to arming Ukraine than other countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States.
But he has slowly been increasing his country’s assistance.
US and Germany promise armored fighting vehicles
Berlin and Washington said in a joint statement last week that they would supply Ukraine with armored fighting vehicles in a major policy shift. For Germany, that means the Marder infantry fighting vehicle. For the US, it includes the Bradley Fighting Vehicle.
Over the weekend, the economy minister said Berlin cannot rule out the delivery of Leopard tanks, which are heavier combat vehicles than the Marder. But a German government spokesman said Monday that it has no plans to send tanks.
The UK Ministry of Defense did not confirm or deny that the British government was considering supplying tanks to Ukraine.
A spokesman said: “The government has committed to match or exceed last year’s funding for military aid to Ukraine by 2023, and we will continue to build on recent donations with training and further equipment giveaways.
“So far we have provided more than 200 armored vehicles to Ukraine, including Stormer vehicles armed with Starstreak missiles.
“We have also donated tens of thousands of items, including helmets and body armor, mobility and logistics vehicles, anti-tank weapons, missiles and air defense systems, medical and winter equipment.”
Click to subscribe to Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts
Last year, Britain sent 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Poland as part of a deal to help Ukraine by freeing up capacity for Warsaw to supply its Soviet-era T-72 tanks to Kyiv.
In service since 1994, the Challenger 2 tank weighs 62.5 tons and is armed with a 120 mm rifled gun and a 7.62 mm chain gun.
Western tanks could ‘tip the balance’
A squadron of Challenger tanks is in Estonia as part of a NATO mission in eastern Europe to deter Russian aggression. The Challenger 2 has previously been deployed to Bosnia and during the 2003 Iraq War.
Colonel Hamish de Bretton Gordon, a former commander of the 1st Royal Tank Regiment, said the introduction of Western tanks could “tip the balance” on the battlefield in favor of Ukraine.
“This strategically sends a very strong message [Russian President Vladimir] Putin that nothing is off the table,” he said.
“The Challenger 2 and the Leopard II are modern tanks. They are much better protected, more reliable, faster,” he added.
By contrast, the Ukrainian military is operating Soviet-era tanks such as the T-72, including some that have already been supplied by partners that also use them.
The Russian military has also relied heavily on tanks manufactured during the Cold War.
The UK’s Challenger tanks, although modern by comparison, were last upgraded in the 1990s and are in the process of being upgraded again. Ukrainian soldiers should be trained on how to operate and maintain them.
Russia said on Monday that new Western arms deliveries to Kyiv would “deepen the suffering of the Ukrainian people” and would not change the course of the conflict.