LONDON (dpa-AFX) - The British government has hinted at an initiative in the debate over supplying modern battle tanks to Ukraine. "It is clear that battle tanks could give the Ukrainians crucial capabilities, and the prime minister told President Selenskyj last week that Britain will provide what it can," a spokesman for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told reporters in London on Wednesday.

He also said Britain would accelerate its support for Kiev and provide the country with "the kind of military technology that will help win the war." Sunak, he said, had instructed Defense Secretary Ben Wallace to work with allies in the coming weeks to discuss "how we can go further and faster in our support to Ukraine." That, he said, would include the delivery of tanks.

Media had recently reported that London was considering supplying Challenger 2 main battle tanks, which would make it the first country to give modern Western battle tanks to Kiev to defend against Russia's war of aggression.

However, a final decision has not yet been made, the spokesman stressed. He declined to comment on whether London was holding talks with Berlin on the delivery of Leopard 2 tanks demanded by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock had said Tuesday evening after visiting the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv that Ukraine needed additional tank deliveries to liberate more areas. Speaking on ARD's "Tagesthemen," the Green Party politician also defended the German government's approach of coordinating with its allies on the issue and proceeding cautiously with regard to demands for the delivery of Leopard 2 fighters. "Even if one's heart is on fire," she said, it is important to consider together how responsible steps can be taken./cmy/DP/jha