Australia delivers Abrams tanks to Ukraine for war with Russia

Sydney (Reuters) -Australia government said on Saturday that M1a1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine as a part of a package of 245 million dollars ($ 160 million) to help defend himself against Russia in the country’s ongoing wars.

Australia, one of the biggest contributors to Ukraine, has been supplying aid, ammunition and defense equipment since Moscow occupied its neighbor in February 2022.

Defense Minister Richard Marles said that Ukraine has most of the 49 tanks given by Australia and the rest will be delivered in the coming months.

“M1a1 Abrams tanks, Ukraine’s illegal and immoral invasion will make an important contribution to the illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine,” Marles said.

The government said Tanks made up a portion of $ 1.5 billion ($ 980 million) that Canberra provided to Ukraine in the conflict.

Australia also banned alumina and aluminum ore exports to Russia, including bauxite, and imposed approximately 1000 Russian individuals and assets sanctions.

Australia’s central left labor government labeled Russia as an aggressive in the conflict this year and asked for the war to be solved according to Kiev’s conditions.

(1 $ = 1.5366 Australian dollars)

(He reports by Sam McKkeith in Sydney)