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.
Zoe Henry, reporter for INC. Magazine, discusses how the tax overhaul is affecting both corporations and middle-income Americans.
Elizabeth Preza, staff writer at Raw Story, discusses the controversy surrounding the release of the secret memo. We talk about Democrats calling for House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-CA) to step down and what this could mean for the 2018 midterms.
Apple, Amazon, and Alphabet all report earnings after the bell. San Francisco announced this week the city is wiping out Marijuana convictions dating back to 1975. Bitcoin plummeted below the $9,000 mark on Thursday. PPG's 2018 Color of the Year is "Black Flame"
San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón says three other California cities reached out to his office after he announced this week the city is wiping out Marijuana convictions dating back to 1975. Cheddar's Baker Machado spoke with Gascón about why he felt it was so important to clear these convictions.
Facebook reveals users are spending less time on the platform. Americans are spending big on their pets this Valentine's Day. Dr. Travis Stork from "The Doctors" stops by to explain how you can eat healthier without breaking the bank. Plus, Family Circle gives advice on how to use tech to promote heart health.
Mike Cernovich may be emerging as the new Bannon in the alt-right movement. Vanity Fair's Tina Nguyen discusses his politcal stragety and how badly Bannon is perceived among the alt-right these days.
FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe stepped down this week. Vanity Fair's Chris Smith joins The Hive to discuss what this means for the Russia investigation and what might be going on in President Trump's mind.
The Hive co-hosts Kristen Scholer and Jon Kelly discuss the top 5 hottest stories in tech and politics. From Melania Trump's appearance at the State of the Union to Mark Zuckerberg's play for local news, The Hive has the latest news you need to know.
More drama is unfolding around the Nunes memo which allegedly criticizes the FBI's handling of the Russia investigation. Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) tweeted that House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-CA) made changes to the memo he sent to the White House without getting those changes approved by Congress. Mother Jones' Ben Dreyfuss discusses whether this development could prevent the president from releasing the memo.
People are spending less time on Facebook, according to the company's latest earnings report. Twitter doubles the number of users who interacted with Russian-linked trolls. And eBay is parting ways with longtime partner PayPal in favor of Dutch payment processing company Adyen. Plus, we bring you a full hour on the Business of Sports heading into Super Bowl weekend.
