Western allies to deliver 321 tanks to Ukraine: senior diplomat - CNN

CNN  — 

Western countries volition present much than 300 tanks to Ukraine, Kyiv’s ambassador to France said Friday.

“As of today, galore countries person officially confirmed their statement to present 321 dense tanks to Ukraine,” Vadym Omelchenko told French TV presumption and CNN affiliate BFM television.

He did not specify which countries would supply the tanks oregon supply a breakdown of which models.

The fig from Omelchenko comes aft the US this week pledged to supply 31 M1 Abrams tanks and Germany agreed to nonstop 14 Leopard 2 A6s. Previously the United Kingdom has pledged 14 Challenger 2 tanks, portion Poland has asked for support from Germany to transportation immoderate of its ain German-made Leopard 2s to Ukraine.

Omelchenko’s interrogation came arsenic North Korea accused the United States and its allies of “further crossing the reddish line” by sending tanks to Ukraine.

The US has a “sinister volition to recognize its hegemonic purpose by further expanding the proxy warfare for destroying Russia,” said Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean person Kim Jong Un, successful a connection tally by North Korean media connected Friday.

She accused the US and different Western countries of “wrecking the planetary bid and the determination information portion handing subject hardware moving into astronomical sums of wealth implicit to Ukraine successful full disregard of Russia’s interest astir security” – and vowed North Koreans would “always basal successful the aforesaid trench” arsenic the radical of Russia.

When the tanks volition get successful Ukraine remains unclear. Omelchenko said transportation dates would alteration depending connected the benignant of vessel and the state of origin, and the timing would beryllium adjusted during the adjacent circular of consultations betwixt Ukraine and Western countries.

However, echoing the words of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who had antecedently urged the West to supply what immoderate experts spot arsenic game-changing subject hardware, Omelchenko said Ukraine needed the assistance “as accelerated arsenic possible”.

“If it had to hold until the period of August oregon September, it would beryllium excessively late,” helium said.

Ukrainian forces person warned they are successful a race against time. The state fears that a 2nd Russian violative whitethorn statesman wrong 2 months and is bracing for the coming weeks.

Previous subject aid, similar the American HIMARS rocket system, has been captious successful helping Ukraine disrupt Russian advances and marque a bid of palmy counter-offensives successful caller months.

But tanks represent the astir almighty nonstop violative limb provided to Ukraine truthful far, subject experts said.

This week, respective Western nations led by Germany and the United States said they would nonstop contingents of tanks to Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden said helium would beryllium providing 31 M1 Abrams tanks to “enhance Ukraine’s capableness to support its territory and execute its strategical objectives” successful some the adjacent and agelong terms.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz successful parliament connected Wednesday said that his authorities would nonstop 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, wrapping up months of deliberation and respective days of tense negotiations with NATO partners.

“This is the effect of intensive consultations that took spot with Germany’s closest European and planetary partners,” a German authorities connection read.

Ukraine hopes that Berlin’s announcement volition promote different European nations who ain Leopards to re-export immoderate of their vehicles.

Hear what Kremlin threatens aft Germans denote tanks

02:21 - Source: CNN

Poland connected Tuesday formally asked for support from Germany to transportation immoderate of its German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

Military experts previously told CNN that the other tanks could marque a difference successful the war. But immoderate analysts said that the caller tanks wouldn’t beryllium the instant game-changer that immoderate would expect.