Delivery of Abrams tanks may take months, but AFU will receive Leopard tanks in short time - White House

John Kirby made the statement in an interview with CNN.

The White House national security spokesman told CNN on Friday that the recently announced delivery of Abrams tanks "will take many months" before the weapons reach the front lines.

Nevertheless, the Biden administration will "waste no time" in training and strengthening supply chains when the equipment eventually arrives in Ukraine.

When asked by a CNN journalist whether the Ukrainian Armed Forces could expect to receive Abrams tanks by the end of 2023, John Kirby refused to answer.

"I don't want to get too specific, because we're still working the plans out, but it'll be many months," he said.

However, the White House spokesman added that the Leopard tanks from Germany will be at the front "in a short time."

• Ukraine will receive 14 Leopard 2 tanks from the Bundeswehr, and Germany has also allowed partner countries to provide Ukrainian defenders with German tanks from their own stocks.

• On January 24, media reported that US President Joe Biden was ready to send Abrams tanks to Ukraine to encourage Germany to hand over the Leopards.

• Following recent negotiations, Ukraine expects to receive about 100 Leopard tanks from 12 countries.