Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Ukraine on Sunday, marking the 34th anniversary of Ukrainian independence. He reiterated Canada’s unwavering support for the country and announced the allocation of $2 billion in military assistance originally announced at the Group of Seven summit in June. Carney did not make clear whether he would consider troops in a training capacity or as part of a peacekeeping force.
Canada announced $2 billion in Canadian dollars (or $1.5 billion in U.S. dollars) in military assistance to Ukraine, including $680 million (or $500 million in U.S. dollars) for munitions and military equipment for Ukraine sourced from America as part of NATO’s Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative. Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal said that these arrangements will simplify the establishment of Ukrainian companies in Canada and facilitate technology exchange, while also helping provide #AFU with modern weapons and military equipment in the long term.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude for Canada’s readiness to join the PURL program and for signing the “important documents and clear agreements.” The visit is highly symbolic, as Canada was among the first to recognize the restoration of Ukraine’s independence and to recognize its sovereign state.
