Biden administration moves closer to sending 'significant' number of Abrams M1 ... trends now
The Biden administration is moving closer to sending Abrams M1 tanks to Ukraine, a step that would provide diplomatic cover for Germany to send its own Leopard tanks and approve delivery from other nations.
A U.S. announcement could come as early as this week.
American officials have repeatedly said the sophisticated Abrams, which guzzles fuel and needs extensive training, would not suit Ukrainian forces.
But the decision would close a rift between the U.S., Germany and other European nations in how far to go in arming Ukraine ahead of what it is believed to be a key phase of the war, as Vladimir Putin plans major spring offensive.
The Biden administration is moving closer to sending Abrams M1 tanks to Ukraine, according to the Wall Street Journal, a step that would provide diplomatic cover for Germany to send its own Leopard tanks and approve delivery from other nations
President Volodmyr Zelensky has asked repeatedly for tanks as the next phase of the war in Ukraine looms, but President Joe Biden has adopted a cautious approach
Last week, the U.K. announced it was sending Challenger main battle tanks to Ukraine, but that not spur the U.S. or Germany to follow suit.
German officials are said to be worried about the sight of their tanks operating close to the Russian border, with echoes of the Nazi advance during World War II.
Meanwhile, European diplomatic sources have frequently expressed frustration with President Joe Biden's cautious approach, which they say pays too much heed to Russia's threats of escalation.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that appeared to change after a Jan. 17 call between Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in
