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Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, met with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during the President’s official visit to Canada.
Prime Minister Carney and President Zelenskyy reaffirmed the strong and enduring friendship between Canada and Ukraine. The Prime Minister underscored Canada’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. Since Russia’s unprovoked and unjustifiable full-scale invasion began, Canada has provided over $8.5 billion in military support and over $750 million for Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction. Canada has also imposed over 3,500 sanctions in response to Russia’s violations of Ukraine’s sovereignty, and recently extended Operation UNIFIER until 2029 to continue the Canadian Armed Forces’ training and support to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Canada has consistently been among the largest contributors to Ukraine’s defence, recovery, and reconstruction.
The leaders discussed Ukraine’s most pressing needs as Russia intensifies its aerial assault on Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure ahead of winter. The Prime Minister confirmed Canada’s intent to provide additional military assistance to meet Ukraine’s urgent need for air defence systems and equipment to help protect Ukraine’s people, infrastructure, and skies. To that end, Canada will support Project Freya, Ukraine’s pan-European effort to develop a lower-cost, high-volume interceptor capable of countering Russian ballistic missile attacks.
As the nature of war rapidly evolves, the leaders discussed strengthening Canada and Ukraine’s defence cooperation and industrial partnerships, with a focus on drone design and production – a sector with world-leading Ukrainian expertise. Prime Minister Carney shared Canada’s significant investments in defence and security, including talent across robotics, manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and computing as foundations to this mission.
Prime Minister Carney and President Zelenskyy condemned Russia’s barbaric assault on Ukrainian civilians. They discussed Russia’s abhorrent acts to abduct, deport, and forcibly transfer Ukrainian children. As co-chairs of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, Canada and Ukraine are working with partners and allies to ensure their safe return, reintegration, and rehabilitation.
Prime Minister Carney underscored Canada’s support for Ukraine’s reconstruction and long-term resilience, with opportunities to leverage Canadian expertise in energy, infrastructure, and clean technology to help Ukraine rebuild.
Prime Minister Carney thanked President Zelenskyy for his visit to Canada, and the leaders agreed to remain in close contact.
