Since 2014, there have been disputes between Russia and Ukraine. However there have been escalations between the two over Ukraine wanting to join NATO as well as Russia wanting to control parts of Ukraine, specifically areas throughout the eastern and southern part of the country, once again. On February 24, 2022, Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, had launched an invasion into their neighboring country. This attack on Ukraine became the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War ll, as about 8 million Ukrainians have been displaced from their homes.

It has been ten months since Russia’s initial attack on Ukraine. There have been hesitations to help from other countries around the world due to Putin warning them not to get involved or else they will face “consequences you have never seen.“ Even with the threats, Germany and the United States are finally beginning to get involved to try to help Ukraine in the war. On Wednesday the U.S. and Germany both said they would send dozens of tanks to Ukraine. This will create a major shift in aid that gives Ukraine more firepower against Russia.

Berlin officials said they would send 14 of their own tanks. U.S. President Joe Biden followed shortly after, announcing plans to send 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. Germany was reluctant to send its own tanks unless the U.S. did the same. However, Ukraine, mainly the city of Kyiv, has requested hundreds of modern day tanks to fight the Russians as they prepare “for a new wave of aggression – with the forces it can mobilize.” Unfortunately, the tanks will take months to make it to Ukraine.

Russia’s ambassador to Germany, Sergey Nechayev, called Berlin’s move an “extremely dangerous decision.”

Though Ukraine is in dire need of new forces to fight the ten month long war, there is fear that sending tanks to help will cause Putin to act irrationally and cause more damage.