US sends 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine - US President Biden

He made the announcement at a press conference.

"Today, I'm announcing that the United States will be sending 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, the equivalent of one Ukrainian battalion. It will enhance Ukraine's capacity to defend its territories and achieve its strategic objectives. Abrams tanks are the most capable tanks in the world. It is also necessary for Ukraine to effectively sustain those tanks on the battlefield. We will begin to train Ukrainian troops on these issues of sustainment, logistics and maintenance as soon as possible," said US President Joe Biden.

• Earlier, the US Congress called for an Abrams tank to be sent to Ukraine to encourage Germany to supply Leopard tanks.

• Poland announced it was ready to provide Ukraine with 14 Leopard tanks and hoped that other NATO countries would follow suit and manage to assemble at least an armored brigade.

• On January 14, Rishi Sunak confirmed during a phone conversation with Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Britain would provide Ukraine with Challenger 2 tanks. 

• Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said his country was ready to participate in the supply of tanks to Ukraine.

• The Netherlands may buy 18 Leopard 2 tanks that were leased from Germany and transfer them to Ukraine as part of a tank coalition.

• French officials are considering the possibility of transferring their own Leclerc battle tanks to Ukraine to provide Berlin with a common platform for Leopard 2 deliveries.

• On January 24, the Wall Street Journal published news that the Biden administration was leaning toward sending a significant number of Abrams M1 tanks to Ukraine.

• On January 25, it was announced that Ukraine would receive 14 Leopard 2 tanks from the Bundeswehr, and Germany allowed partner countries to provide Ukrainian defenders with German tanks from their own stocks.

• At the same time, Spain changed its decision to provide Ukraine with heavy weapons to counter Russian aggression. Madrid may now send Leopard tanks to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.