The Independent quoted Tobias Ellwood, who chairs the British House of Commons Defense Committee, urging ministers to do much more to support Kiev.
“Actually, NATO reached the docks on the issue. We must do more to quell this fire, but the steps are lacking. If Ukraine intends to retake territory and shift to the offensive, something must break the current stalemate. Main battle tanks should be part of that mix,” Ellwood conveyed.
Ellwood also welcomed the prospect of sending British armor to Ukraine.
“This is a shared struggle, yet the Ukrainians have borne a heavy load for too long. It demonstrates growing determination to look at the threat squarely. Do not be discouraged by Russia’s rhetoric, and we are finally delivering this much-needed serious weapon to Ukraine,” he stated.
An unnamed Western official cited in the Independent described Ukraine’s request for 300 assault tanks as unreasonable. The official did not specify exact numbers Ukraine would truly need. Still, there was broad agreement on the necessity to equip the Armed Forces of Ukraine with armored vehicles.
“A key capability gap is an insufficient number of main battle tanks and armored personnel carriers to support offensive maneuvering operations,” the official noted.
The article also notes that some officials have acknowledged the parties in the Ukraine conflict are in very close contact, hindering Kiev from launching a successful offensive.
“The Ukrainians will struggle to retake strategic areas without changing their military posture relative to last year. The balance of power between Russians and Ukrainians remains delicate,” the article observed.
The warnings from Western authorities came as France delivered AMX-10RC wheeled tanks to Ukraine and Britain prepared to deliver Challenger 2 main battle tanks to Kiev.
Will Western armored vehicles help Ukraine?
On January 10, it was reported that the Pentagon is weighing the transfer of Stryker armored combat vehicles to Ukraine, as part of a potential new aid package expected to be announced soon. Sources quoted by Politico indicate Washington believes these vehicles could help Ukraine repel a spring Russian offensive. The final decision on procurement had not been made at that time. Earlier, the United States announced the transfer of M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles to Kiev, with a figure around fifty units being discussed.
Kyiv is also set to receive the German BMP Marder, though the exact number under the contract remains unclear. Politico explains that if Western nations begin supplying Ukraine with their own modern armor, it could pave the way for more capable vehicles such as the American M1 Abrams and the German Leopard at a later stage.
On January 9, Downing Street said that a final decision on providing Challenger tanks had not yet been reached, with the issue still under review by partners. A British spokesperson stated that discussions with partners have focused on providing tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, and air defense equipment to support Ukraine’s efforts. The Prime Minister spoke with President Zelensky recently about what assistance could help Ukraine achieve military success.
Earlier, it was reported that Poland would not supply Leopard II tanks on its own. Polish officials noted such a move would require a broad coalition. The Wall Street Journal had previously reported that Warsaw was considering transferring Leopard II tanks to Kiev. NATO expressed concern about Moscow’s potential reaction, viewing further arms supplies as a possible escalation. In April 2022, Russia asserted that Western military shipments to Ukraine were legitimate targets, and the Kremlin argued that such supplies did not advance peace negotiations.