The United States of America announced that the first batch of M1 Abrams tanks, which Washington pledged to provide to Ukraine, has been officially approved at the end of the week, and will be sent to Kiev by early next Fall.

"The first batch of Abrams tanks will be sent to Ukraine by early Fall," said Doug Bush, the US Army's military procurement official.

He added, in a press conference: "The (tanks) are completed, and they will be sent to Europe, and then to Ukraine, with all the things that go with them, such as ammunition, spare parts, fuel equipment and repair facilities ... You know, it's not just the tanks, it's the whole package that goes with it.

The United States began training Ukrainian military personnel on Abrams tanks last May in Germany.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency