It may be that the USA had to commit to sending a few Abrams MBTs in order to get recalcitrant German politicians to stop stalling on the Leopard II deployments. Even if the US MBTs simply sit in staging points somewhere in western Ukraine, they will have served their purpose as the Leopard II MBT is what Ukraine really needs. The question is whether a sufficient number - and enough ammunition - can be supplied or whether, once again, it will be a case of too little, too late.