Prime Minister Rishi Sunak outlined Britain's ambition to send battle tanks to Ukraine along with additional artillery support during a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Prime Minister Sunak's office said.
During the Saturday talk, the two leaders "agreed on the need to seize on this moment with an acceleration of global military and diplomatic support to Ukraine," the statement reads.
They also "welcomed other international commitments in this vein, including Poland’s offer to provide a company of Leopard tanks," Downing Street said.
President Zelensky thanked the UK for the decision, saying that it "will not only strengthen us [Ukraine ed.] on the battlefield, but also send the right signal to other partners."
The official claimed that the UK's support was "always strong" and was "now impenetrable."
Britain will become the first country to send modern Western-made tanks to Ukraine, a move the authorities in Kyiv have long sought.
According to the BBC, despite being over 20 years old, the Challenger tank "will be the most modern tank at Ukraine's disposal."
Earlier this week, Polish president Andrzej Duda pledged that his country will send a company of German-made Leopard tanks to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia.
(ał)
Source: IAR, Reuters, bbc.com