Speaking at the daily press conference, the US Department of Defense (Pentagon Spokesperson) Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said, “As announced in January, the US was going to supply the Ukrainian army with 31 M1 Abram tanks as part of the Ukraine Security Initiative. The intention there was to give the M1-A2 variant. “We were looking for options to deliver tanks as quickly as possible. After research and study on how we can do this better, the Pentagon, in coordination with Ukraine, decided to issue the M1-A1 variant of the Abram tanks. This will significantly shorten the delivery time.” said.
According to the news of AA, Ryder noted that the bodies of M1-A1 tanks will be renewed and informed that these tanks will be supplied to the Ukrainian army until autumn.
Stating that the replacement of the tanks’ hulls will be funded within the scope of the US defense budget under the Ukraine Security Initiative, Ryder emphasized that the procurement of the first announced tanks may take more than a year.
The United States had long resisted not giving tanks to Ukraine. President Joe Biden’s administration was put in a difficult situation when Germany stipulated that the US should supply tanks first in the debate on the supply of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
The administration changed its rhetoric in a short time and announced that 31 M1A Abrams tanks would be purchased on January 24 to be given to the Ukrainian army.
Thereupon, Germany announced that it would give Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and allowed the countries with these tanks to take a step in this direction.
