Doubts linger concerning whether or not Ukraine will obtain US-made M1 Abrams tanks in 2023, US Military Secretary Christine Wormuth instructed the media. She famous that the Pentagon is presently entertaining a number of situations, together with constructing the wanted {hardware} from scratch or sourcing it from a number of the present operators.

Talking throughout a Protection Writers Group occasion on Thursday, Wormuth assured journalists that Washington is taking a look at “what’s the quickest means we will get the tanks to the Ukrainians.”

The military secretary acknowledged that the handover is not going to be accomplished in a matter of weeks or months, however with “longer timelines concerned.”

“I believe there are alternatives which can be lower than two years, lower than a 12 months and a half. However once more we’ve got to take a look at the professionals and cons of every of them,” she stated, including: “it’s nonetheless to be decided as as to whether tanks might get there by the top of the 12 months.”

She defined that the prolonged wait time is because of the truth that the US is not going to solely have to provide the tanks themselves, but additionally present the mandatory restoration autos, ammunition, and coaching for Ukrainian troops.

Whereas constructing the {hardware} “from scratch” will not be off the desk, the Pentagon might additionally go for modernizing present tanks from its personal stock, Wormuth stated. She added that Washington is taking a look at different choices that may contain “international locations that we’ve bought tanks to beforehand.” These nations could also be higher positioned to “get tanks to the Ukrainians extra shortly,” she defined, noting, nevertheless, that this “would possibly disrupt relations with essential allies.”

Chatting with Sky Information in late January, days after US President Joe Biden pledged to supply Ukraine with 31 Abrams tanks, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky burdened that in the event that they arrive as late as August, it will likely be “too late.” He additionally made it clear {that a} handful of tanks “gained’t make a distinction on the battlefield.”

Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov stated the deliberate deliveries of tanks have been considered in Moscow as “direct involvement” by NATO within the battle. He added that Western armor is not going to change the end result of the preventing, and that the tanks will “burn” in the event that they arrive on the battlefield.

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