The Strykers could be included in the next aid package for war-torn Ukraine, the politico.com news service reported on Monday night.
According to a US official, who asked for anonymity, the next tranche of security assistance to Ukraine could be announced next week, at the time of the next Ukraine Defense Contact Group get-together in Germany.
However, no final decisions have been made, politico.com’s sources said, adding that Washington may decide to supply the Strykers as part of a future package instead.
Bradley, Marder, AMX-10
Last week, the Biden administration announced it would provide Ukraine with 50 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, a powerful tracked armoured vehicle equipped with an autocannon, a machine gun and TOW missiles, politico.com reported.
Also last week, Germany committed to sending Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicles, while France pledged to deliver AMX-10 RC light tanks to Ukraine, news outlets reported.
Meanwhile, the Stryker is an eight-wheeled armoured fighting vehicle that can operate in snow, mud and sand, according to politico.com.
The Strykers would represent another equipment boost for Ukraine as it readies itself for an expected major new Russian offensive in the coming weeks, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Tanks for Ukraine?
The supply of Bradleys and Strykers to Ukraine could be a prelude to delivering tanks, politico.com wrote.
However, Western nations are debating “who goes big first,” it added.
“There’s a strange back and forth with the Europeans where any time anyone asks, the Europeans they say, ‘Well, you know, the U.S. should go first.’ And the administration said, ‘Well, we want the Europeans to go first or we want to do it together.’ And the Ukrainians are just saying, ‘For the love of God, just give us the tanks,’” said an official familiar with the talks, as quoted by politico.com.
Tuesday is day 321 of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
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Source: politico.com, PAP, The Kyiv Independent