US is preparing another major military aid package for Ukraine

CNN has reported that the US is expected to announce one of its largest military aid packages to Ukraine in the coming days. Despite the fact that Ukraine has asked for modern tanks, the US will not provide them.

So far, the US has shied away from providing Ukraine with its Abrams tanks, although the UK and other key allies are preparing to provide tanks that could be crucial in a war as Kyiv prepares for a possible large-scale Russian counteroffensive.

While US officials have publicly supported the allies' decision on the tanks, none has indicated that the Joe Biden administration might change its mind and send US tanks to Ukraine.

Retired Army General Robert Abrams, a former commander of the US forces in Korea, emphasized that the longer the US postpones and slows down the decision to provide Ukraine with tanks, the more precious time the US loses.

"If in the end, five months from now we say, ‘Okay fine, we’re going to give them some M1 tanks, choose your variety’ – we’ve just lost five months of prep time. So the politics decision actually has to come sooner rather than later," he said.

At the same time, the Pentagon explains that the decision not to provide Ukraine with tanks is not related to the fear of escalation in relations with Russia or the risk of American weapons getting to Moscow. The concern is how difficult it is to operate and maintain the 70-ton Abrams and whether it would be suitable for the Ukrainian army.

• On January 5, the Washington Post reported, citing an anonymous senior Biden administration official, that the US has ruled out sending Abrams battle tanks to Ukraine. The White House explains this by technical reasons. The tanks are allegedly too heavy - they weigh 55 tons - and have a gas turbine engine. It consumes a lot of fuel in operation.