Reports state that the US is prepared to change its policy and send hundreds of Abrams tanks to Ukraine.

 According to US media, the US is prepared to begin a procedure that would ultimately deliver dozens of its M1 Abrams combat tanks to Ukraine, reversing a position that might have profound effects on Kyiv's ability to fend off Russian forces.

US soldiers stand with Polish and US flags near M1/A2 Abrams tank in Kielce, Poland, on 5 September 2022. The US and Germany are expected to announce they are sending battle tanks for use by Ukraine. Photograph: Kacper Pempel/Reuters

The action comes in response to allegations from Tuesday that Berlin was about to announce that it would send tanks made in Germany to Ukraine and permit other nations to do the same after bowing to intense domestic and international pressure.

According to a US official who spoke to the Associated Press, the US is scheduled to formally announce its intention to send little over 30 tanks on Wednesday.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the president of Ukraine, responded to the claims by claiming that Russia was getting ready for a fresh round of attack and that he had observed "A lot of effort, words, and promises" regarding tanks. "However, it's critical to recognize the truth: It's not about five, 10, or 15 tanks. There is a greater need. We are making all effort possible every day to make up the difference. And I want to thank everyone who is helping us out with this.

"Discussions must, however, end with decisions. decisions regarding the true bolstering of our terrorism defense. The requisite number of tanks are with the allies. We will be pleased to thank you for each important decision you helped make after the necessary weighty ones have been made.

In spite of demands from Kiev and widespread pressure from Berlin, the US would decide to deliver the Abrams only days after arguing against sending the tanks.

They stated that the Abrams will probably be purchased through a program called the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which enables the administration of president Joe Biden to purchase weaponry from the private sector rather than from the US government's stockpiles already in place.

According to the allegations, it was possible for the Biden administration to purchase the Abrams from allies who own them under the USAI procedure, renovate them, and then deploy them to Ukraine. It can take months or perhaps years to complete.

In anticipation of a new Russian attack, which Kyiv anticipates would occur soon, Ukraine claims that strongly armored western combat tanks would give its troops more mobility and protection. They might also aid Ukraine in regaining some of the ground lost to Russia.

According to US authorities, the Abrams was a bad option for this stage of the war since it was difficult to maintain, difficult for Ukrainians to operate, and relied on jet fuel.

However, the Pentagon underlined the difficulties the Abrams presented on Tuesday while declining to say whether Washington would send tanks to Ukraine.

The M1 (Abrams) is a difficult-to-maintain complicated weapons system. The Pentagon's press secretary, Brig Gen Pat Ryder, told reporters that "that was true yesterday, it is true today, and that will be true in the future."

"We continue to address the medium- and long-term military requirements for Ukraine with Ukrainians as well as our allies and partners," Ryder added.

Berlin had initially stated that it would only send the Leopard tanks to Ukraine if the United States agreed to send its own tanks. However, Berlin then changed its position.

According to Mark Cancian, a defense specialist at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, "the only reason the United States would transfer M1 tanks to Ukraine is to provide Germany the political support it needs to release the Leopard tanks."

The news of the US attitude weakening was revealed on the same day that sources claimed Germany will send Leopard 2 tanks to the Ukraine to assist in defending against the Russian invasion and permit other nations, like Poland, to do the same.

Berlin intends to send a company of Leopard 2A6 battle tanks, which typically consists of 14 of the vehicles, together with other partners, including Scandinavian countries who own the units, according to German media reports citing government sources.

Berlin is rumored to have also stated that it will approve export licenses for nations like Finland, Sweden, and Poland who purchased the tanks from Germany, allowing them to be shipped to Ukraine.

The final decision is anticipated to be made on Wednesday, and Germany's chancellor, Olaf Scholz, is scheduled to face questions in the Bundestag in the morning.

Scholz's Social Democrat party had been acting cautiously, avoiding actions that may exacerbate the situation in Moscow.

After months of agonizing discussion and introspection, Germany has finally made a historic choice that will see German tanks deployed on European battlefields for the first time since the Second World War.

Some have argued that Germany has a moral duty to send tanks to protect the victims of Russian aggression due to its historical culpability as the cause of that international crisis.

However, decision-makers have been resisted because of Germany's Nazi background because they were deeply concerned that using tanks to increase firepower could intensify the fight and put Germany in danger of being seen as an aggressor.

No information regarding when the tanks will arrive in Ukraine has been provided. By March, according to Leopard's manufacturer Rheinmetall, they could be ready for delivery.

Following a meeting with Nato general secretary Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday in Berlin, South Africa's defense minister, Boris Pistorius, declared that he was urging nations who possess Leopard II tanks to begin educating Ukrainian soldiers on their usage.

Berlin in particular has received numerous promises from Kiev, which has been requesting the tanks since last April, that they will only be deployed for defense.

The decision was appreciated even if it had come quite late, according to Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, the chair of the parliamentary defense committee, who has been harshly critical of Scholz's hesitation. It was "redemptive news for the mistreated and valiant people of Ukraine," she added, calling the decision "arduous, it took far too long, but in the end it was inescapable."

Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report