Western tank aid to Ukraine pushes end of conflict further away: Russia

The Russia-Ukraine conflict will soon enter its second year, with Moscow trying to regain the initiative and Kyiv relying on Western tanks to mount a counteroffensive later in 2023.

Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands on Tuesday promised Ukraine that they will provide at least 100 tanks in the "coming months" and the defense ministries of the three European countries also said training and support would be provided for the Leopard 1 tanks.

The increasing tank aid to Ukraine has led to questions about how the move will affect the conflict.

While media reports suggest it will take months to transfer Western tanks to Ukraine and train soldiers to operate them, experts warned that the incoming tanks could lead to a battlefield disaster rather than be a game changer.

"In combat get just a few things wrong and it causes disaster and failure. Lethal tanks turn into pillboxes that don't move or shoot. To make all this work, it takes training, maintenance, supply & a team - beyond just the tankers - to get this right on the battlefield," Mark Hertling, a military analyst who once commanded the U.S. Army's 1st Armored Division, said on Twitter.

Wei Dongxu, a special commentator for China Media Group, said gifting old Leopard tanks to Ukraine helps the West reduce inventory of their own military equipment, but also consumes Russian combat powers and contains Russia's overall strategy and military operation.

(CGTN)