UK to provide Ukraine with main battle tanks, 10 Downing Street confirms

According to a representative from the Prime Minister’s office, the government acknowledges that “It is clear that battle tanks could provide a game-changing capability to the Ukrainians.”

The announcement follows several weeks of deliberations in the British government, following concerns in the West that the provision of tanks will be perceived as an offensive manouevre against Moscow.

Earlier in the week, the Polish government announced that it was looking to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine, with President Andrzej Duda calling on the West to increased armour deliveries.

“A company of Leopard tanks will be handed over as part of coalition-building,” he said.

“But for this, it is necessary to fulfil a whole set of formal requirements, approvals and so on. However, first of all, we want it to be an international coalition.”

It is expected that Poland plans to send 14 units to Ukraine, considering the number of tanks employed in a standard Polish armoured company.

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Despite the country’s planned delivery of Leopard 2s to Ukraine, the German government maintains the regulatory power to approve or reject the re-export of the Leopard.

The Ukrainian government has continuously advocated for the supply of Western-made tanks, seeing the capabilities as fundamental tools to enable an offensive manoeuvre against Russia’s invading forces.

Speaking to The Economist in December, commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Army Valery Zaluzhny detailed that while victory was in sight for the Ukrainian forces — they required armour.

“I know that I can beat this enemy. But I need resources,” he said.

“I need 300 tanks, 600-700 IFVs, 500 Howitzers. Then, I think it is completely realistic to get to the lines of February 23rd.”

The debate follows confirmation that Germany and the United States would provide Ukraine with new infantry fighting vehicles.

Liam Garman

Editor – Defence and Security, Momentum Media

Liam began his career as a speech writer at New South Wales Parliament before working for world leading campaigns and research agencies in Sydney and Auckland. Throughout his career, Liam has managed and executed international media and communications campaigns spanning politics, business, industrial relations and infrastructure. He’s since shifted his attention to researching and writing extensively on geopolitics and defence. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Sydney and a Masters in Strategy and Security with Excellence from UNSW Canberra, with a thesis on post-truth, postmodernism and disinformation operations.

 

Reach out to Liam via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or via LinkedIn.