Britain is considering supplying Ukraine with Challenger 2 tanks to fight Russian forces | world News

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The United Kingdom is considering supplying British tanks to Ukraine for the first time to fight the invading Russian forces, Sky News understands.

A Western source familiar with the talks said discussions had been underway “for a few weeks” about handing over a number of British Army’s Challenger 2 main battle tanks to the Ukrainian armed forces.

Such a move would represent a significant increase in Western support for Ukraine and could help induce other NATO allies, particularly Germany, to follow suit.

“This will encourage others to give tanks,” said a Ukrainian source.

The government of Rishi Sunak has not yet made any final decision, but if the UK signs such a handover, it will become the first country to respond to the calls of Ukrainian leaders to equip their army with powerful Western tanks.

A US-led grouping of about 50 countries – including the UK – that provides military support to Ukraine is scheduled to hold its next meeting on January 20. Any announcements about new aid, such as tanking, can coincide with a contact group meeting.

One source suggested that Britain might supply around 10 Challenger 2 tanks – enough to equip a squadron.

This in itself wouldn’t be a “game-changer,” the source said, but it would still be very important because the move would breach the barrier that has so far prevented allies from offering Western tanks to Ukraine for fear of being seen as an over-escalation by Russia.

The sources said that could prompt other allies to do the same.

Photo: Leopard II battle tank

Several European Allies used Leopard II tanks

Pretending would be a good precedent [to] Others – to Germany first of all, with their Panthers … and Abrams from the United States, ”the Ukrainian source said.

Ukraine has long ordered mass production of German-made Leopard 2 tanks, which are used by many European allies, including Germany, Poland, Finland, the Netherlands and Spain.

Warsaw and Helsinki have already indicated their willingness to supply Leopard tanks to Kyiv, but this requires approval from Berlin because Germany holds the export licence.

Olaf Schultz, the German chancellor, adopted a more cautious approach to supplying arms to Ukraine than other countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States.

But he was slowly ramping up aid to his country.

Germany and the United States promised armored fighting vehicles

Berlin and Washington said in a joint statement last week that they would supply armored fighting vehicles to Ukraine, in a significant policy shift. For Germany, that meant the Mardar infantry fighting vehicle. For the United States, it consists of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle.

Over the weekend, the economy minister said Berlin could not rule out deliveries of Leopard tanks, which are combat vehicles heavier than Mardar tanks. But a German government spokesman said on Monday that it had no current plans to send tanks.

The British Ministry of Defense has neither confirmed nor denied that the British government is considering supplying tanks to Ukraine.

A government spokesperson said: “The government has committed to match or exceed last year’s funding for military aid to Ukraine in 2023, and we will continue to build on recent donations with training and the provision of more equipment.

“We have provided more than 200 armored vehicles to Ukraine to date – including Stormer vehicles armed with Starstreak missiles.

“We have also donated tens of thousands of items including helmets, body armor, mobility and logistics vehicles, anti-tank weapons, missiles, air defense systems, winter gear and medical equipment.”

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Last year, the UK sent 14 Challenger II tanks to Poland as part of a deal to help Ukraine by freeing up capacity for Warsaw to supply Kyiv with its Soviet-era T-72 tanks.

In service since 1994, the Challenger 2 tank weighs 62.5 tons and is armed with a 120mm cannon and a 7.62mm gun.

The introduction of Western tanks could “turn the balance” on the battlefield

A squadron of Challenger tanks is currently stationed in Estonia as part of a NATO mission in Eastern Europe to deter Russian aggression. Challenger 2 previously deployed to Bosnia and during the 2003 Iraq War.

Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, 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.

Strategically, this sends a very firm message to [Russian President Vladimir] “Nothing is on the table,” Putin said.

“Challenger 2 and Leopard 2 are modern tanks. They are better protected, more reliable and faster,” he added.

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By contrast, the Ukrainian military operates Soviet-era tanks such as the T-72, including some already supplied by partners who also use them.

The Russian military also relies to a large extent on tanks manufactured during the Cold War.

The UK’s Challenger tanks – though relatively recent in comparison – were modernized in the 1990s and are themselves in the process of being modernized again. Ukrainian soldiers will need training on how to operate and maintain them.

Russia said on Monday that new shipments of Western weapons to Kyiv would “increase the suffering of the Ukrainian people” and would not change the course of the conflict.

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