What does Ukraine need, and why?

• Canada has announced that it will be sending Ukraine 200 armoured personnel carriers, while the US appears to be intending to send around half that number Stryker armoured vehicles (coincidentally also produced in Canada).

• Eyes are still on Germany though, which manufactures the Leopard 2 tank (see pic) but sells them only to countries that agree not to sell (or give / loan) them to a third country without German permission. With large tracts of open, fairly flat, but off-road terrain to contest, these main battle tanks with their heavy armour, 120mm armament and tracks instead of wheels, are strategically essential to Ukraine. (The NATO standard 120mm guns have the added bonus of being compatible with NATO's stockpile of ammunition, unlike Ukraine's existing tank fleets which use the rarer 125mm.)

• Today's First Edition newsletter from the Guardian has a good exlainer on both the strategic situation in Ukraine, and the political situation in Germany and the rest of Europe. I can't link to it but it's worth checking out.