The delay in sending tanks to Ukraine is part of the pattern of undue US and German caution in arming Ukraine. On the flat terrain in Ukraine’s east and south, they could spearhead the counteroffensive.

If the tanks reach Ukraine in the next few months-which cannot be taken for granted-they could also be deployed by Ukraine in its own planning for a new counteroffensive. They will also prove invaluable if Moscow launches a major offensive from Belarus or elsewhere this year, something that Ukraine’s intelligence services expect. The timing is important as Moscow’s months-long offensive in the Donbas near Bakhmut and Soledar has made minor gains in recent days, and Moscow has begun small offensive operations in the Zaporizhzhia region. The tanks will help Ukraine defend its positions with fewer casualties in both locations. The concurrent decision by the United States to send Abrams tanks, which seems to have encouraged Berlin to do the right thing, also adds to the value of the weapons package the West is sending Kyiv. Germany’s decision, at last, to permit other European states to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, and to send its own Leopards as well, is a significant step forward in Western support for Ukraine. Michael John Williams: Watch out for a Russian offensive before the tanks reach the battlefield These tanks could spearhead a Ukrainian counteroffensive Watts: The war in Ukraine will prove that tanks still matter-and Leopards will outclass their Russian counterparts Rachel Rizzo: There’s no going back for Germany’s relationship with Russia Here’s how it can lead now.ĭaniel Fried: Germany finally sees what Putin’s Russia has becomeĬhristopher Skaluba: Western unity is restored, but Zelenskyy’s next ask might get more complicated Jörn Fleck: Germany’s decisionmaking has been torturous. John Herbst: These tanks could spearhead a Ukrainian counteroffensive What difference will these weapons make on the battlefield? How will Russian President Vladimir Putin react? And is this a turning point for Germany’s participation in arming Ukraine? Our experts lay out what’s next. Meanwhile, the United States will send its own M1 Abrams tanks. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced Wednesday that Berlin will send Leopard 2 tanks-and allow other European nations to do so. After months of haggling and delay, both the United States and Germany are sending the battle tanks requested by Ukraine for its extended fight against Russia. JanuExperts react: The West finally sends in the tanks.

Modern tank vs tank battle