Ukraine has received the first batch of Abrams tanks from the US as part of its efforts to bolster its defense capabilities amid the ongoing conflict with Russia-backed separatists in the east.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Monday that the tanks have arrived in Ukraine and are being prepared to reinforce the Ukrainian brigades. He thanked the US and other allies for fulfilling their pledges and said Kyiv is seeking new contracts to expand the supply of military equipment.
“The Abrams are already in Ukraine, we are preparing to reinforce our brigades,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. “Covering Odesa is a priority in all my negotiations regarding air defense,” he added, referring to the recent shelling of the city by unknown forces.
The delivery of the tanks comes after US President Joe Biden announced plans to provide them to Ukraine during his meeting with Zelenskyy on Sept. 21 in Washington. The US has also pledged to provide $60 million worth of weapons and equipment, including Javelin anti-tank missiles, to Ukraine.
The US and other Western countries have been supporting Ukraine since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and backed a separatist uprising in the eastern Donbas region. The conflict has killed more than 13,000 people and displaced millions.
The tensions have escalated in recent months, as Russia amassed tens of thousands of troops near the Ukrainian border and conducted large-scale military exercises. Ukraine has accused Russia of violating the 2015 Minsk agreements, which aimed to end the fighting and restore peace in the region.
Zelenskyy said he is preparing for winter and ensuring the protection of critical infrastructure, shelters and “points of invincibility” in case of a possible Russian invasion. He also said he is working on reforms to strengthen Ukraine’s democracy and economy and to fight corruption.
“We are not afraid of anything. We are moving forward,” he said.
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