Russia has strongly criticized the recent decision by Germany and the United States to supply Ukraine with modern battle tanks, with Moscow's Ambassador to Germany Sergei Nechayev declaring that any tanks given to Ukraine by the US will "burn."
Germany has announced plans to deploy Leopard 2 tanks, while the US President Joe Biden has announced the decision to supply 31 M1 Abrams tanks.
The move marks a significant shift in Western assistance for Ukraine, which has primarily focused on defensive measures. Germany also announced plans to supply Ukraine with heavy artillery, air defense systems, and rocket launchers.
Russia has called the decision "extremely dangerous" and has warned that it will take counter measures to protect their interests.
Experts have raised concerns about Ukraine's ability to manage the logistical infrastructure for the Abrams tanks, as well as the need for additional training for the sophisticated equipment.
Despite Russia's criticism, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has emphasized the importance of speed and quantity in the tank support, stating that "the key now is speed and volumes. Speed in training our forces, speed in supplying tanks to Ukraine. The numbers in tank support."
