Tanks To Ukraine
Good Morning,
Today you will hear announcements that Germany and Western allies will now send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. (Pronounced Leo-pard by the way)
The debate has turned over fears of escalation of war with Russia, but Ukraine’s need to defeat an invading army, sent by Russian President Putin, outweighs the risks say leaders.
The U.S. is to send M1-Abrams tanks, as a token contribution to push Germany to allow Leopard tanks to be exported.
America will likely only send just over a dozen tanks. Germany wanted this to be a collective decision so the U.S. tanks are important.
There are 2000 Leopards in Europe, in various NATO countries, so the German decision to release it’s tanks and remove export license restrictions is really what matters here.
If Germany pushes the launch button, several hundred tanks will wind up in Ukraine after the necessary training, and resupply-repair piece forms.
Germany has faced a mountain of criticism over delaying the tanks decision, and has it seems finally given ground as threats of a new Russian offensive looms, and the fighting between Ukraine and Russian forces seems deadlocked.
Russia is banking on an extended fight, and is struggling to regroup and rearm, but the tanks will possibly give Ukraine an iron spearhead to break through Russian lines, cut off the land bridge Putin is establishing to Crimea, and even threaten the Crimea itself, which was illegally seized by Russia in 2014.
All roads…or shall we say all tank tracks, lead to Crimea which is used by Russia as an invasion key base and platform for attacking Ukraine.
On Back Story with Dana Lewis podcast this week a key interview with former U.S. Army Europe Commander (Ret) Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges on the tank debate. And Gen Hodges agrees the thought of victory is really what’s slowed Germany to send the armour.