Sunak: UK to supply Ukraine with Challenger 2 tanks

London, Jan 14 (EFE).- The United Kingdom’s prime minister on Saturday pledged to provide Ukraine with tanks and new artillery systems.

Rishi Sunak said during a phone call with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the UK would supply Challenger 2 tanks.

Ukraine has long called on its Western allies to provide tanks to bolster its forces against Russia’s invasion.

A Downing Street spokesperson on Saturday said Sunak and Zelenskyy “agreed on the need to seize on this moment with an acceleration of global military and diplomatic support to Ukraine.”

“The prime minister outlined the UK’s ambition to intensify our support to Ukraine, including through the provision of Challenger 2 tanks and additional artillery systems.”

The announcement from the UK’s prime minister comes after Poland offered to supply a company of German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine via an international mechanism.

In an interview with Polish TV Friday, Zelenskyy thanked Poland for its offer of Leopard tanks but called on other allies to follow suit.

The UK has been one of Ukraine’s foremost international allies since Russia launched its invasion in February 2022. EFE

er/jt