A Russian company is not happy that the U.S. and Germany have agreed to send M1 Abrams and the sophisticated Leopard tanks to Ukraine. The company is so disgruntled about it that it has issued a bounty for the destruction of the tanks.
After weeks of debate within the Biden administration and building pressure from Germany and some members of Congress, the administration has announced that it will send 30 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine in what is being seen as a breakthrough. The debate as to whether or not to send Western-made tanks to Ukraine has also been a source of division amid NATO allies.
After having appointed a new Defense Minister, Boris Pistorius, Germany is increasing pressure on Washington to send M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, a move the Biden administration has been hesitant to make for fear that Russia will view it as an escalation.
In a move that Russia is likely to interpret as an escalation, French President Emmanuel Macron agreed on Wednesday to provide French-made AMX-10 RC light tanks to Ukraine. Macron is the first Western leader to provide tanks to the war-torn country.