The US is

ready to begin the process of transferring dozens of Abrams M1 battle tanks to Ukraine.

But the process can take months, and possibly even years.

This was reported to Reuters by American officials.

The officials, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the announcement on the provision of the above-mentioned tanks to Ukraine could come as early as Wednesday, January 25. 

Another source familiar with the matter said the

US could deliver about 30 Abrams tanks in the coming months.

The two officials said the Abrams would likely be purchased through a fund known as the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which allows President Joe Biden's administration to obtain weapons from industry rather than from existing US arms stockpiles.

One official said it was possible the Biden administration could use the USAI fund to buy Abrams from allies, refurbish them and then send them to Ukraine.

At the same time, this process can take months or even years.

Tanks 

Leopard and Abrams to Ukraine 

During talks in Germany last week, the allies

failed to convince Berlin to give Ukraine its Leopard battle tanks. 

The Wall Street Journal reported on January 24 that US President Joe Biden is preparing to send a "significant number" of Abrams M1 tanks to Ukraine and the White House may announce the delivery as early as January 25.

According to Sky News Arabia, Biden may hand over 

10 such tanks to Ukraine. 

Washington, they say, wants to take such a step in order to influence Germany, which has not yet made a decision regarding the possible supply of Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv.

CNN, with reference to three US officials, reported that the

terms of the actual delivery of tanks and the amount of equipment are still unknown

, but the United States is finalizing the preparation of the plan to send Abrams to Ukraine.

Journalists assume that such a decision may be part of an attempt to resolve a diplomatic dispute with Germany.

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said on Tuesday that the issue of supplying tanks "will be resolved relatively soon".

Previously, the Pentagon explained that they were refraining from transferring Abrams tanks to the Armed Forces of Ukraine allegedly due to operational difficulties.

In turn, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stated that the Armed Forces of Ukraine need more than a few dozen tanks, because Russia has many times more of this equipment. 

The 10-50 tanks promised to Ukraine by various countries will not "solve the problem" on the battlefield

, but will play another important role - it will show the unity of the world and motivate the Ukrainian military to fight against the aggressor.

The former commander of NATO in Europe, Wesley Clark, commenting on Britain's decision to transfer heavy weapons to Ukraine, also said that the news of sending 10 combat vehicles is pleasing, but 300-500 tanks are needed to counter Russian aggression.

He called on the US and Ukraine's Western partners 

to take more seriously the provision of military aid to Kyiv to counter Russian aggression.

Meanwhile, ISW believes that the provision of main battle tanks by Western countries to Ukraine

will help the Armed Forces defeat the Russian invaders and liberate Ukrainian territory from the occupiers.

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