Former US president Donald Trump has warned that Western efforts to bolster Ukraine with more tanks could lead to nukes being used in the conflict with Russia.
Pressure has been mounting on NATO nations to send tanks to wartorn Ukraine, with Germany now sending coveted Leopard 2 A6 tanks and the US sending some of its M1A1 Abrams.
It is thought Germany is sending 14 tanks and the US 31.
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The USA’s decision to send killing machines was announced by president Joe Biden on Wednesday (January 25) as he described them as the "most capable tanks in the world”.
Newsweek reports that US Defence secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said the tanks came recommended as a means to "enhance Ukraine's capacity to defend its territory and achieve its strategic objectives."
Other countries with Germany’s Leopards are now permitted to also send them to Ukraine.
But the 45th president of the USA, Trump, was not a fan of the wave of weapon sending.
Taking to controversial social media platform Truth Social the businessman said: "FIRST COME THE TANKS, THEN COME THE NUKES. Get this crazy war ended, NOW. So easy to do!"
The conversation about nuclear weapons has been one of the most consistent and nerve-jangling talking points throughout the 11-month war.
While many experts fear Putin would press the big red button if his country was backed into a corner and facing defeat, others feel the chances of him doing the unthinkable are highly unlikely.
Russian Ambassador to Germany Sergey Nechaev was deeply unimpressed by the decision to send the tanks, however.
He said in a statement: “Once again, we are convinced that Germany, like its closest allies, is not interested in a diplomatic solution to the Ukrainian crisis, it is set up for its permanent escalation and unlimited pumping of the Kyiv regime with more and more deadly weapons.
“Red lines' are a thing of the past."
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