09.10.2023.

Ukraine weapons: What tanks and other equipment are countries giving?

US President Joe Biden has said that the first batch of Abrams tanks will arrive in Ukraine "next week".

The US is by far the largest contributor of arms to Ukraine.

Poland, which was also a major donor, recently said it would stop supplying it with weapons.

It is in a dispute with Ukraine about its exports of grain, which Poland says are flooding its market.

The amount of military aid given to Ukraine is tracked by the Kiel Institute, but the data only accounts for donations up until the end of July.

The US announced a new military aid package for Ukraine worth up to $500 million.

The US has also confirmed it will provide cluster munitions, a controversial move which has caused unease among some Nato allies.

Ukraine has also received SCALP missiles from France - similar to the UK Storm Shadows missiles that were recently delivered.

Tanks

Dozens of tanks have already been committed. Ukraine says they are urgently needed to defend its territory and to push out Russian troops.

  • The US is sending 31 of its Abrams tanks
  • The UK is providing 14 Challenger 2 tanks
  • Germany is providing 14 Leopard 2 tanks
  • Spain says it's sending six of its Leopard 2 tanks

The Leopard 2 is used by a number of European countries, and is considered to be easier to maintain and more fuel-efficient than most other Western tanks.

During the first months following the invasion, Nato preferred member countries to supply Ukraine with older tanks - ones that had been used in the former Warsaw Pact.

Ukraine's armed forces know how to operate them, and how to maintain them, and had a lot spare parts for them.

Modern Western tanks are more complicated to operate and harder to maintain.

Recent footage of a Ukrainian attack on Russian positions show that at least one Leopard tank and several Bradleys are already in use by Ukrainian forces.

The UK led the way in Nato by offering to provide the Challenger 2 - its main battle tank.