Biden Administration Set to Deliver US-Made Abrams Tanks to Ukraine, Sparking Mixed Reactions

The Biden administration is set to announce the delivery of US-made Abrams tanks to Ukraine this week, according to two US officials familiar with the deliberations. The tanks, which are recovery vehicles used to assist in the repair of tanks on the battlefield, will be sent to Ukraine in an effort to bolster the country’s defense against Russian aggression.

The move has been met with both anticipation and criticism. Thousands of protesters have gathered outside the Parliament in Berlin, while Ukraine’s government has promoted a social media campaign calling on Germany to “free the leopards.” This is in reference to the German government’s reluctance to provide military aid to Ukraine, which some have referred to as “Scholzing” – a term coined by historian and commentator Timothy Garton Ash to describe “communicating good intentions, only to use/find/invent any reason imaginable to delay these and/or prevent them from happening.”

Despite Germany’s reluctance, the country has provided billions in humanitarian and military aid since the start of the war. The timing around the actual delivery of the tanks is still unclear and it normally takes several months to train troops to use the tanks effectively, officials said.

The US-made tanks are seen as a major step forward in the fight against Russian aggression in Ukraine. The Biden administration’s announcement to send the tanks could come as early as this week, and is expected to be met with both celebration and criticism. It remains to be seen how the tanks will be used and how effective they will be in the fight against Russian aggression.