Both the US and Germany plan to send tanks to Ukraine after months of debate, according to media reports.

US President Joe Biden's administration is expected to announce plans to send M1 Abrams tanks.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has also reportedly decided to send at least 14 Leopard 2 tanks.

Ukrainian officials have said the potential shipments could have a significant impact on the battlefield against the Russians.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said such a tank deployment would have “unambiguously negative consequences”.

Until now, the US and Germany have resisted internal and external pressure to send their tanks to Ukraine.

Washington has cited the extensive training and maintenance required for the high-tech Abrams.

Berlin has expressed caution about Nato becoming a direct party to the war with Russia.

Citing anonymous sources, US media outlets are reporting that an announcement regarding Abrams shipments to Ukraine could come as soon as Wednesday.

One unnamed official told the New York Times that about 30 could be sent.

The timeline of any potential delivery, however, remains unclear.

According to US media reports, German officials had privately insisted they would only agree to the transfer of Leopard 2s to Ukraine if the US also sent M1 Abrams.

“If the Germans continue to say we will only send or release Leopards on the conditions that Americans send Abrams, we should send Abrams,” Democratic Senator Chris Coons, a Biden ally, told Politico on Tuesday.

Britain has already said it will send Challenger Two tanks to Ukraine.

Poland this week said it wants to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, but they are made in Germany and so Berlin needs to approve their export.

At least 16 European and Nato countries have the Leopard 2 tanks, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Not all will send tanks to Ukraine – but Mr Scholz’s apparent decision now means they can, should they wish.

(With inputs from agencies)