National Defence Minister David McGuinty announced more military training and financial support for Ukraine on Tuesday.Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press
Canada is extending a Canadian Forces training mission for Ukraine’s soldiers by three more years to 2029, and providing Kyiv with substantial military aid as Russia’s full-scale invasion of the European country enters its fifth year.
Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday urged Moscow to negotiate peace, saying the Russians have failed to achieve their objectives over years of fighting.
Ottawa announced $300-million in additional military assistance for Ukraine, as well as the disbursement of $2-billion from a $6.2-billion envelope for Kyiv, first announced in the 2025 budget and meant to be spent over five years.
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The training mission for Ukrainian soldiers, called Operation Unifier, is currently conducted in countries such as Britain and Poland. It commenced in 2015 after Russia’s 2014 annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula and Moscow’s backing of pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine. Its most recent extension was to 2026.
In February, 2022, Russia launched an all-out military assault on Ukraine and its forces still control roughly 20 per cent of the country.
Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, Mr. Carney said Russia’s military grab for Ukraine has repeatedly fallen short.
“Russia is failing to achieve all of its objectives four years into this conflict, or 12 years if you include its illegal annexation of Crimea,” the Prime Minister said.
Ukrainians on Tuesday were observing the fourth anniversary of Russia’s all-out invasion of their country – a grim marker in a war that has killed tens of thousands of people and put European leaders on edge about the scale of Moscow’s ambitions on the continent.
The Associated Press
Mr. Carney took part Tuesday in a virtual meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in support of Ukraine, which includes 34 countries. The meeting was co-chaired by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, participated along with other coalition leaders.
The Prime Minister said Western allies of Ukraine remain committed to Kyiv and urged negotiations for peace.
“We’re in it for the long haul. Russia is failing. The sooner they come to the table and actually participate in peace negotiations, the better it will be.”
Defence Minister David McGuinty said Canada will also send more than 400 armoured vehicles to “help ensure the Armed Forces of Ukraine have the equipment and capabilities needed to defend their territory.”
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Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand announced Tuesday that Canada is expanding sanctions linked to Moscow’s military assault, targeting an additional 21 individuals and 53 organizations, as well as 100 vessels from Russia’s shadow fleet of oil tankers that seek to skirt punitive Western measures against Moscow.
She also announced $20-million more for the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, which underwrites procurement and delivery of equipment to Ukrainian energy companies to repair and rebuild critical infrastructure damaged by Russia’s air strikes and drone attacks.
Mr. McGuinty said the additional aid demonstrates “Canada’s unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s fight for freedom.”
Since February, 2022, Canada has provided more than $25-billion in assistance to Ukraine, including $8.5-billion in military aid.