Ukraine to get ‘double’ the number of Challenger 2 tanks than Britain originally promised
Ukraine will receive ‘double’ number of Challenger 2 tanks than Britain originally promised ‘as a result of Zelensky’s visit’, Ukrainian ambassador claims
- Vadym Prystaiko made the comments during a radio interview
- The Defense Department says there are currently no plans to increase the number
Ukraine will receive “double” the number of Challenger 2 tanks than Britain originally promised to send, according to the Ukrainian ambassador to the UK.
Vadym Prystaiko has said Britain will double the original 14 tanks that were to be sent to support Ukraine’s fight against Russia following President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to the UK in February.
The ambassador’s comments came out during an interview with the European broadcaster Radio Freedom.
Prystaiko said, “We have been promised 14 tanks and as a result of President Zelensky’s visit it has been agreed that this number will double.”
A Challenger II tank is seen at a UK military facility
Ukrainian ambassador Vadym Prystaiko has said the UK will ‘double’ the number of Challenger 2 tanks they were originally going to send
Describing the moment when Britain originally promised to send the tanks, he called it a “breakthrough” because it was “necessary to overcome the unwillingness of all the other allies.”
Prystaiko also explained that the UK has offered to more than double military training efforts by 2023 as the war in Ukraine continues.
He also claimed that Britain will offer 30 heavy guns to the front line.
The Defense Ministry said there are currently no plans to increase the number of tanks beyond the agreed figure of 14, although the Defense Secretary previously said Britain was open to expansion.
Defense Secretary Ben Wallace has previously said Britain is open to increasing the number of tanks sent to Ukraine