Russia says US battle tanks will ‘burn’ in Ukraine, calls it ‘waste of money’

Russia says heavy battle tanks the United States plans to send to Ukraine “will burn” in the ex-Soviet republic, dismissing the move as an expensive folly.

Reversing its previous position, the administration of US President Joe Biden is due to reveal plans as early as this week to send American-made M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, despite concerns that these tanks, probably numbering at least 30, are too logistically burdensome for Ukrainian forces.

After weeks of hesitations, Germany also finally agreed on Wednesday to provide Leopard 2 tanks to Kiev’s troops, overcoming misgivings about sending heavy weaponry to Ukraine.

Moscow, in response, denounced the provocation, saying that while the Abrams shipments were not confirmed, they would be a waste of money.

The latest development comes despite Russia’s warnings that deliveries of offensive weapons to Ukraine would lead to “a global catastrophe.”

Russia started what it calls a “special operation” in Ukraine with the declared aim of “de-Nazifying” the country on February 24, 2022. Since then, the US and Europe have imposed waves of unprecedented economic sanctions on Moscow and have given Ukraine tens of billions of dollars’ worth of weaponry, including rocket systems, drones, armored vehicles and communications systems.

The Kremlin has time and again warned the sanctions and the Western military assistance will only prolong the war.