Goal Is To Help Make Ukraine Capable Enough To Win Against Russia: White House After 31 Abrams Tanks Promise

The Biden government's goal is to get Ukraine the requisite capabilities it needs to ace on the battlefield against Russia, said NSC's Coordinator for Strategic Communications, John Kirby.

Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council John Kirby speaking during the daily news briefing at the White House ( Image Source :Getty )

After Washington and Berlin announced that they will send advanced battle tanks to Kyiv, the White House has said that the Biden government's goal is to get Ukraine the requisite capabilities it needs to be successful on the battlefield against Russia. President Joe Biden announced that the US will be sending 31 state-of-the-art Abrams battle tanks to Ukraine to counter Russian forces that remain entrenched in East Ukraine for almost a year.

This development comes after Germany's decision to send 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks to Ukraine.

National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby during a press conference on Wednesday said, “It is our goal and a goal shared by our allies and partners that we get to Ukraine the capabilities they need to be successful on the battlefield today but, just as critically, in the future, going forward this year.”

During the conference Kirby also said that the Germans would help organise two more battalions, the British have agreed to send their Challenger tanks, while the French will also be contributing with armoured vehicles. He said, “This very much just follows right along with the kinds of discussions we've been having with the Ukrainians for months about making sure that they can fight on the terrain that they're in and that they can prepare for operations going forward this year.”

Modern tanks like the Leopard 2 and Abrams are believed to be more effective than Russian forces' Soviet-era tanks. Biden earlier said that the delivery of these tanks will take time as Washington will ensure that the Ukrainians are fully prepared to integrate these tanks into their defences. Ukraine would also push for F-16 fighter jets from the US, reported The Hill.

Kirby said that he expects the tempo of war between Ukraine and Russia to pick up the pace again after the weather improves. He said, “We have to be ready for that. I know the Ukrainians feel they have to be ready for that. So, it's about helping Ukraine defend itself but also, helping Ukraine be able to go on the offensive when the weather conditions and when the operational conditions are permissive.

State Department Spokesperson Ned Price at a separate news conference said that the US wants to equip Ukraine not only with deterrent capabilities but also defensive capabilities. Those capabilities would help defend Ukraine if Russia once again crosses the international borders to attack in the future.

Responding to a question, Price said Moscow has already inflicted a strategic failure on itself.

(With PTI inputs)