President Joe Biden has announced that the United States would be delivering 31 Abrams Tanks to Ukraine as the country heads into a new phase of its war against Russia.
“With spring approaching, the Ukrainian forces are working to defend the territory they hold and preparing for additional counter-offensive,” President Biden said. “To liberate their land, they need to be able to counter Russia’s evolving tactics and strategy on the battlefield in the very near term.”
Biden explained that the tanks are some of the “most capable in the world,” they would improve Ukraine’s ability to fight in open terrain, and give them “an enduring capability to deter and defend against Russian aggression.”
The announcement was accompanied by Germany’s decision to send 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks to the nation as well.
“Germany supports Ukraine in defending against Russia’s aggression,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Wednesday. “We are supplying Leopard 2 tanks in close cooperation with our international partners.”
Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to the Biden administration following Wednesday’s announcement.
“It’s an important step on the path to victory,” Zelenskyy said on Twitter. “Today the free world is united as never before for a common goal — liberation of Ukraine.”
However, it will likely be months before any tanks are delivered to the front and Ukrainian troops get fully trained to use the complex weapons.
These are the headlines you Need 2 Know for Friday, Aug. 23, 2019.
The Democratic presidential candidate from Vermont drew praise from activists and advocates after revealing his $16.3 trillion plan to combat climate change.
Planned Parenthood is standing by its decision to withdraw from the federal government’s family planning program rather than comply with the Trump administration’s new rule barring referrals to doctors who provide abortions.
These are the headlines you Need 2 Know for Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019.
President Trump on Wednesday reversed his position on lowering payroll taxes to bolster economic growth, telling reporters that “we don’t need it.” The reversal comes as a growing number of economists have warned that a recession in the U.S. is on the horizon.
The new rule, ending the so-called Flores agreement, will allow officials to hold families in detention indefinitely for the duration of immigration cases, which could be much longer than the current 20-day limit.
The minutes released from the July Federal Reserve meeting showed that the interest rate cut was a "mid-cycle adjustment to policy."
China's e-commerce giant is delaying its potential $15 billion listing in Hong Kong because of the region's political instability, according to the Reuters news service.
On World Humanitarian Day, the United Nations honored women aid worker for the vital role they play in emergency situations, and the increasing risk female aid workers put themselves in to help others.
Democratic Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney of New York who co-sponsored the universal background check bill in February slammed President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for the lack of movement on gun reform.
