The Bundestag Research Service highlights the difficulties of finding a definition in a recent study. The MBT is generally believed to be a universal tank that provides a combination of mobility, firepower and protection. Definition of ‘battle tanks’ĭefining ‘battle tank’ is rather difficult, and definitions have changed considerably with the evolution of military doctrine over the more than 100 years of tank history. This issue of whether to supply such tanks has been particularly contentious. Despite these efforts, EU countries were criticised for not providing weapons Ukraine needs, particularly modern Western-made battle tanks, which Ukraine had requested. To coordinate supply and demand, the EU Military Staff has set up a clearing-house. The equipment so far delivered to Ukraine ranges from Soviet-era tanks to protective equipment. The EU also, on 15 November 2022, launched an EU military assistance mission to train the Ukrainian army. At the time of writing, support for Ukraine under the EPF amounts to €3.6 billion to date. Funding for the move comes from the European Peace Facility (EPF) – an off-budget financing instrument initially worth €5 billion in 2018 prices (there is political agreement to increase the financial ceiling to €10.5 billion) and operational since July 2021. Background: Weapons deliveries to Ukraineįor the first time in European Union history, on 28 February 2022, EU Member States agreed to jointly finance the provision of lethal weapons to a country at war, namely Ukraine. This issue of whether to supply such tanks has been particularly contentious since the start of the war. Following Ukraine’s repeated requests, and almost a year of hesitation and delicate negotiations, in January 2023, EU Member States, Norway, the UK and the US finally decided to send Western-made main battle tanks (MBTs) to Ukraine.
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