U.S. closer to approving significant number of Abrams tanks to Ukraine

The Biden administration is leaning toward sending a significant number of M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, two U.S. officials said, and an announcement could come as early as Wednesday.

The development comes amid a public standoff with German officials, who are under pressure to send their own Leopard tanks and allow other European countries that operate the German-made vehicles to do so as well.

On Tuesday, shortly after news broke of the possible U.S. move, POLITICO reported that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also plans to announce that German Leopards are heading to Ukraine. Last week, Scholz told U.S. lawmakers that Berlin would approve the transfer only if the U.S. donated its own tanks first.

The transfer of U.S. and German tanks would mark a major development in the Wests effort to arm Ukraine. Top Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, have spent weeks pleading for tanks as Kyiv prepares for fresh Russian offensives in the countrys east.

One of the two U.S. officials said the Biden administration is considering sending around 30 Abrams tanks.