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.
Donald Trump has unveiled a sweeping national AI strategy on Wednesday, signing three executive orders aimed at securing U.S. dominance in the global ...
Russia and Ukraine have completed a major prisoner exchange, marking one of the largest swaps since the start of the war. The deal was based on agreem...
Germany and France are aiming to end a long-standing rift over their joint fighter jet project by August, as Chancellor Friedrich Merz and President E...
Senior diplomats from Iran, Russia and China convened in Tehran to coordinate their positions on Iran’s nuclear programme and Western sanctions ahea...
Australia has made a further payment to the United States under the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed on Wednesd...
Australia has made a further payment to the United States under the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed on Wednesday that a second instalment of $525 million has been paid, following an initial $500 million payment in February.
Australia has delivered M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine as part of a A$245 million ($160 million) defence package aimed at bolstering Kyiv’s resistance against Russia.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, affirming that both countries will keep communication channels open and explore cooperation opportunities despite ongoing strategic rivalry in the Indo-Pacific region.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
Australian researchers have created a groundbreaking “biological AI” platform that could revolutionise drug discovery by rapidly evolving molecules within mammalian cells.
Australian researchers have pioneered a low-cost and scalable plasma-based method to produce ammonia gas directly from air, offering a green alternative to the traditional fossil fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
Donald Trump has unveiled a sweeping national AI strategy on Wednesday, signing three executive orders aimed at securing U.S. dominance in the global artificial intelligence race by accelerating innovation, cutting red tape, and easing regulations on critical data infrastructure.
Russia and Ukraine have completed a major prisoner exchange, marking one of the largest swaps since the start of the war. The deal was based on agreements made earlier in Istanbul.
Germany and France are aiming to end a long-standing rift over their joint fighter jet project by August, as Chancellor Friedrich Merz and President Emmanuel Macron push for unity in European defense.
Senior diplomats from Iran, Russia and China convened in Tehran to coordinate their positions on Iran’s nuclear programme and Western sanctions ahead of upcoming negotiations in Istanbul.
Australia has made a further payment to the United States under the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed on Wednesday that a second instalment of $525 million has been paid, following an initial $500 million payment in February.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment