Ukraine to get more armoured vehicles but presses for tanks to fight Russia

While Washington projected severe fighting would last for months on the eastern frontline, Western allies moved toward providing Ukraine with armored battle vehicles but not the heavier tanks it has wanted to oppose Russia.

Following a phone chat on Wednesday, a French official stated that French President Emmanuel Macron informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that his country will send lightweight AMX-10 RC armored combat vehicles to support its war effort.

While the official claimed that these would be the first Western-made armored vehicles to reach Ukraine, Australia announced in October that 90 of its Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles, a type of armored vehicle that is resistant to landmines, small-arms fire, and other dangers, had been delivered to Kiev.

Later on Wednesday, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden stated that Washington was considering sending Bradley Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine, which has been engaged in Europe’s largest land conflict since 1945 since Russia invaded its territory in February. Millions of people have been uprooted, cities destroyed, and tens of thousands have died.

Since the middle of the 1980s, the Bradley armored vehicle, which carries a potent gun, has been a mainstay of the American Army for moving troops across battlefields. Numerous Bradleys owned by the U.S. Army would increase Ukraine’s firepower on the battlefield and improve its capacity for trench warfare.

But Biden’s action wouldn’t be enough to supply Ukraine’s requested Abrams tanks. Ukraine has frequently requested heavier combat equipment like the Abrams and German-made Leopard tanks from its Western partners.

Zelenskiy praised Macron for the news in an evening video speech and noted that it demonstrated the need for additional friends to contribute more powerful weapons.

“To all of our partners, this sends a very obvious message. There is no logical explanation for why Western tanks have not yet been delivered to Ukraine “said he.