The M1 Abrams is a modern main battle tank used by the United States (Credit: Wikipedia/ U.S. Army)

By Gary  Raynaldo    –  DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

PENTAGON    –  WASHINGTON  DC –     The  Pentagon is not confirming news reports that the Biden administration is poised  to approve sending dozens of U.S. M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine.   ABC news reported Tuesday that U.S. officials confirm that the Biden administration is leaning toward sending M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine.  But during a press briefing,  Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder was mum on the news reports regarding the tanks. 

“I am aware of the press reporting stating that the U.S. is considering providing Abrams tanks to Ukraine. I have no announcements to make at this time and when we do, we’ll be sure to let you know,”

-Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters at a briefing on Tuesday.

(Photo by Gary Raynaldo /©Diplomatic  Times)  Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder briefs reporters on the Russia-Ukraine situation at the Pentagon in Washington DC.

The news reports that the U.S. is considering sending tanks to Ukraine comes as Germany remains hesitant to deliver its own tanks.   Last week, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III met with newly appointed German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius  to push Berlin to transfer German-made tanks to Ukraine. The US Defense Secretary traveled  to Germany to meet with top officials and join the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at the US military’s Ramstein Air Base.  Defense leaders from some 50 nations, many of them NATO countries, gathered at Ramstein Air Base to ponder how to supply Kyiv with more weapons. Many Western allies  are calling on Germany to assume a leadership position in Europe’s response to the war in Ukraine given Berlin’s economic and military might. Germany has often been criticized for being too cautious in supplying arms. There has been ongoing pressure on Germany to allow  the supply of tanks to Ukraine in the war with Russia.