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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has not ruled out deploying Canadian troops to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia.
Getting into it: During his unannounced visit to Kyiv on Ukraine’s Independence Day, Carney said that Canada stands ready to play a role in ensuring the country’s long-term security, including the potential presence of Canadian forces. While he did not specify whether troops would serve in a training capacity or as part of a peacekeeping operation, he left the option open, highlighting the need for deterrence rather than trust in future dealings with Russia. “When that peace comes, we cannot simply trust and verify — we must deter and fortify,” Carney said during a speech standing alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Carney added, “We know that Putin can never be trusted. We know that true peace and security will require security guarantees for Ukraine.”
The Prime Minister’s visit also focused on high-level discussions with Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials about military support and economic cooperation. The two leaders signed an agreement on joint drone production and outlined a security cooperation action plan.
Zelensky welcomed Canada’s readiness to participate in future security guarantees and stressed the importance of allied involvement in rebuilding Ukraine’s defense and energy infrastructure. He also proposed Canada’s involvement in major energy projects, offering Ukrainian port infrastructure and storage capacity for Canadian gas exports.
The prime minister used the visit to unveil new details about Canada’s $2 billion military aid package, first announced at the G7 summit in June. The funding includes $835 million for ammunition, $680 million for air defense systems procured from the US, $220 million for drone and counter-drone technologies, and additional support for Ukraine’s Armed Forces and logistics.
