May 16 (UPI) -- Long-awaited U.S. Abrams tanks have arrived in Germany, the Pentagon said, with expectations that Ukrainian soldiers will begin training on the advanced weaponry in the coming weeks.
On Monday, Pentagon press secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said he can confirm that the 31 tanks have arrived in Grafenwoehr, Germany, in preparation for training of Ukrainian tank crews.
"Those crews are expected to arrive and begin training within the next couple of weeks," Ryder told reporters during a press briefing at the Pentagon. "This extensive training program for Ukrainian crews and maintainers is intended to prepare them for their critical roles ahead in effectively operating the M1 tank and defending Ukrainian people."
The U.S. tanks had long been on the wishlist of Ukrainian officials, but the Biden administration had initially been reluctant to arm them with the advanced weaponry due to the difficulty in training to use the machinery as well as maintaining them compared to the other armored vehicles the United States had pledged to supply Kyiv.
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