The move was announced by Canada’s Defence Minister Anita Anand during a visit to Kyiv on Wednesday, the Ukrainska Pravda website reported.
The Canadian government later said in a statement: "This new package of military assistance responds to a specific Ukrainian request for these vehicles, which are being purchased from Roshel, a Canadian company based in Mississauga, Ontario.”
It added: “This aid is valued at over $90 million and is allocated as part of the additional $500 million in military aid for Ukraine announced by Prime Minister Trudeau in November 2022."
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a tweet: “On this difficult day for Ukraine, our friends continue to support us. Thank you Justin Trudeau and the Canadian people for another defence aid package announced today in Kyiv by Anita Anand. Today the Ukrainian army needs 200 APCs more than ever. Together we are moving towards victory!”
NATO countries to send ‘heavier weapons’ to Ukraine
Meanwhile, NATO countries are set to pledge new “heavier weapons” for Ukraine, according to the alliance’s chief.
Many of Ukraine’s allies, including all 30 NATO members, are due to meet on Friday at the Ramstein military base in Germany, news outlets noted.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland: “The main message there will be more support and more advanced support, heavier weapons and more modern weapons.”
Earlier this month, Britain pledged Challenger heavy tanks, while the United States promised to deliver Bradley armoured fighting vehicles and France offered its AMX-10 RC armoured fighting vehicles, according to news outlets.
EU's Michel calls for tanks to defend Ukraine
Meanwhile, the head of the European Union has spoken in favour of the West supplying tanks to Ukraine.
Charles Michel, the European Council president, said in the European Parliament on Wednesday: “The time is now – they urgently need more equipment and I am personally in favour of supplying tanks to Ukraine.”
He later tweeted: "The time is now. Ukraine needs more military equipment. I firmly support the delivery of tanks."
Michel's message came as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz avoided committing to the supply of Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine, news outlets reported.
Russia conducts limited counterattacks in eastern Ukraine
On the frontlines, Russian forces continued “limited counterattacks to regain lost positions near Kreminna” in Ukraine’s eastern Luhansk region, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
The US-based think tank made the assessment in its latest analysis of the war in Ukraine, published on Wednesday night.
The ISW added that Russian forces continued “offensive operations near Soledar, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Donetsk City” in the eastern Donetsk province.
According to US experts, the Russian Ministry of Defence “continues to attempt to downplay the role of the Wagner Group" of mercenaries "in claimed tactical advances in the Soledar area.”
Meanwhile, Russian forces were "concentrating in Zaporizhia Oblast,” in southeastern Ukraine, “possibly for a large defensive or offensive effort,” according to Ukrainian officials, the ISW reported.
Thursday is day 330 of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: Ukrainska Pravda, nato.int, global.espreso.tv, understandingwar.org