Ukraine to get ‘DOUBLE the number of British Challenger 2 tanks than originally promised’ for fight against Putin
UKRAINE will receive double the number of British Challenger 2 tanks than originally promised, the country's UK ambassador has said.
Vadym Prystaiko has said in an interview that Britain has decided to double the 14 originally planned after President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit last month.
Prystaiko, made the bold statement in a.
He told the European broadcaster "14 tanks were promised to us and as a result of President Zelensky's visit, it was agreed that this number will double".
He described the original promise as "a breakthrough moment when it was necessary to move the reluctance of all other allies".
"And, if you remember, despite the fact that the announcement was made, the official confirmation by the Prime Minister took almost a week, for him to officially repeat it.
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"At this time, the British were trying to convince all the other allies that there were two options: either the UK proceeds with this announcement alone and makes this breach that everyone else has to go into, or let's do this very important step all together as one front, as NATO.
"The UK was successful this time. I think the same process is happening now with fighter jets."
Prystaiko stated that the UK has offered to more than double military training efforts throughout this year as the war in Ukraine rages on.
The ambassador also alleged that Britain will also dish out another 30 heavy guns to the frontline.
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It comes after we exclusively revealed the Army have no AS90s left and are scrambling to buy replacements after pledging their working weapons to Kyiv.
The self-propelled artillery pieces can blast targets 15 miles away with 155mm shells, with Top Brass insisting they are "designed to fight Russian forces."
But the decision to give them away has stripped two Royal Artillery regiments, based on Salisbury Plain, Wilts, of all their working weapons.
Prystaiko said Ukraine has been reminded by the UK when souring artillery to assess "what do we want to achieve and what are the tasks we set before ourselves?"
He also praised the nation for working with allies "to contribute to the formation of a consensus"; when arranging the delivery of elite tanks and jets.
Prystaiko added: "Of course, we need everything now, but the British are ready to find even what they do not have - often in other markets, in other places."
The ambassador also referred to Armed Forces Minister James Heappey, claiming he prompted both countries to halt the production of high-tech weaponry to bulk up supply of artillery " that Ukraine needs right now."
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has previously said the UK is not ruling out sending more tanks to Ukraine but the Ministry of Defence currently has not plans to do so.
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