Britain is sending ‘game-changing’ tanks to Ukraine to aid war effort

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed the commitment during a telephone conversation with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

He vowed to “seize the moment” and help “push back the Russian troops.”

The Ukrainian military currently operates older Soviet-era tanks, such as the T-72 model.

Russia’s military also relies heavily on tanks manufactured during the Cold War.

A No.10 spokesman said: “Leaders have been reflecting on the current status of the Russian war in Ukraine, with successive Ukrainian victories pushing back Russian troops and exacerbating their military and morale problems.

“They agreed on the need to seize this moment with an acceleration of global military and diplomatic support to Ukraine.

“The Prime Minister outlined the UK’s intention to increase our support to Ukraine, including through the deployment of Challenger 2 tanks and additional artillery systems.”

Poland has also offered to provide Ukraine with a company of Leopard tanks.

No 10 added: “The Prime Minister stressed that he and the whole British government would work intensively with international partners to quickly provide the kind of support that will allow Ukraine to take advantage, win this war and have a secure lasting peace.”

President Zelensky thanked the UK for decisions “that not only strengthen us on the battlefield but also send the right signal to other partners”.

He tweeted: “The UK’s always strong support is now impenetrable and ready for challenge.

‘In a conversation with the Prime Minister, I thanked them for the decisions that will not only strengthen us on the battlefield, but will also send the right signal to other partners.’

Mr. Sunak previously described the tanks as “game-changing capabilities.”

His official spokesman had said: “It is clear that main battle tanks could give the Ukrainians a game-changing capability.

‘The Prime Minister said President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyj last week will give Great Britain everything we can.

“The Prime Minister has asked the Secretary of Defense to work with partners over the coming weeks to discuss how we can go further and faster in our support to Ukraine, including the deployment of tanks.”

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