Australia has confirmed that a fleet of retired U.S.-made Abrams tanks promised to Ukraine is finally on the way, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting in Rome on Sunday, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
The tanks, which were pledged last year, had remained in Australia for months amid reported U.S. reluctance and logistical challenges. While defense officials blamed delays on Washington's hesitance, U.S. sources told ABC they had warned Australia early on that deploying Abrams tanks would be “complicated” and challenging to sustain in Ukrainian battle conditions.
Despite the complications, Albanese reiterated Canberra’s commitment to Ukraine, stating his government is doing “whatever we can” to increase pressure on Russia. He refrained from disclosing the exact delivery timeline, citing operational security concerns.
Zelenskyy welcomed the news and expressed gratitude for Australia’s ongoing support. “We are very thankful for this important step,” he said, adding that Australia’s contributions have played a vital role in Ukraine’s continued defense.
Australia has so far contributed around AUD $1.5 billion (US $962 million) in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine and imposed sanctions on approximately 1,400 Russian individuals and entities. Zelenskyy encouraged further sanctions, to which Albanese responded that Australia remains open to “whatever we can do” to amplify economic and diplomatic pressure on Moscow.
Separately, Albanese met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Rome, who proposed a new security partnership between the European Union and Australia. While expressing interest, Albanese described the discussions as “very early stage” and noted that Australia is cautiously exploring deeper defense cooperation with Europe.
The deployment of Abrams tanks marks a significant escalation in Australia's military assistance and comes at a time when Western allies are intensifying efforts to bolster Ukraine’s capabilities on the battlefield.
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Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 20 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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