Rishi Sunak pledges to send tank squadron to Ukraine ahead of a spring offensive

PM Rishi Sunak will send a tank squadron to Ukraine ahead of a spring offensive, The Sun can reveal.

The armoured vehicles will be delivered as part of an effort to take back territory captured by Russian troops since the invasion nearly a year ago.

The Prime Minister will inform Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky about the plan today, saying he “wants our action to speak louder than words”, a Downing Street source said.

A group of four Challenger 2 tanks will be delivered to eastern Europe immediately, with a further eight following shortly afterwards.

Mr Sunak held talks with defence and security chiefs this week telling them it had to be an operational priority to get tanks to the country.

Both the PM and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace have decided to send the full squadron following intense lobbying from Mr Zelensky.

The Challenger 2 entered service in the mid-1990s and is has a 120mm gun.

Ukraine has previously said it needs 300 western tanks to liberate its territory from Russian occupation.

The UK offer will form part of the military package to the country after European allies including France and Germany committed to send armoured vehicles.

America has earmarked 50 Bradley Fighting Vehicles.

Defence chiefs in Ukraine say a major offensive is likely when the weather improves, with heavy fighting expected in March.

Western officials have previously said both Ukraine and Vladimir Putin’s Russia are locked in a race to build up their armed forces ahead of any offensive.

A Downing Street source last night said: “The Prime Minister has been clear that the UK has to stand by its commitment to Ukraine, and that includes ensuring it has the critical equipment to defend itself and change the battlefield equation.”