The first dispatch of Western-made tanks to Ukraine is likely to be viewed by Moscow as escalation of the conflict. The Russian embassy in London said the tanks would drag out the confrontation.
Germany is now expected to come under pressure to follow suit as Kyiv continues to plea for advanced military equipment.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his advisers have "analysed the military picture, looked at the strategic impact of the UK's support and identified a window where he thinks the UK and its allies can have maximum impact," a government spokesperson said in a statement.
Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24 in what Moscow calls "a special military operation", but which Ukraine and its allies say is an unprovoked aggression that has since killed thousands, displaced millions and turned much of cities like Dnipro into rubble.
