According to the media report that discussions have been ongoing “for a few weeks” about delivering the British Army's Challenger 2 main battle tank to Ukraine, citing a Western source with knowledge of the discussions

Britain is considering supplying Ukraine with tanks for the first time to assist the country in fighting Russian forces, according to Sky News, which cited unnamed sources. 

Sky reported that discussions have been ongoing “for a few weeks” about delivering the British Army's Challenger 2 main battle tank to Ukraine, citing a Western source with knowledge of the discussions.

Tanks would represent a significant increase in Western support for Ukraine, but the British government still needs to make a final decision on the matter, according to the report.

According to one unnamed source, Britain could offer around ten Challenger 2 tanks.

The Challenger 2 is a British army battle tank that was designed to attack other tanks. It has been in service since 1994. According to the British army, it has been used in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Iraq.

The UK Ministry of Defence did not comment specifically on possible tank supplies to Ukraine but did note that it has supplied over 200 armoured vehicles and other equipment, including air defence missiles and anti-tank weapons, to Ukraine to date.

“We will continue to build on recent donations with training and additional equipment gifts,” said a ministry spokesperson.

Britain has pledged to match or exceed last year's military aid to Ukraine of 2.3 billion pounds (USD 2.8 billion).

Last week, Foreign Minister James Cleverly stated that Britain would continue to work with Western allies to ensure Ukraine receives the necessary military assistance.

“Tanks could be a part of that, and where they come from... which allies provide them is something that, of course, we're working on in coordination with each other,” Cleverly said after meeting with his German counterpart.