Canadian prime minister visits Ukraine, leaves door open to possibility of sending troops

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Ukraine on Sunday and left the door open to the possibility of sending ground troops to support Ukrainian defenses against Russia.

Carney joined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a news conference 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.

“We are working through, with our allies and coalition of the willing and with Ukraine, the modalities of those security guarantees, on land, in the air and the sea, and I would not exclude the presence of troops,” Carney said at a news conference.

A local outlet reported that Carney did not make clear whether he would consider troops in a training capacity or as part of a peacekeeping force.

“In Canada’s judgment, it is not realistic that the only security guarantee could be the strength of the Ukrainian armed forces, in the medium term. So that needs to be buttressed. It needs to be reinforced,” Carney added at the news conference.

Carney 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.

“Ukraine is on the frontline in the struggle for freedom and sovereignty. After three years at war, Ukrainians urgently need more military equipment. Canada is answering that call, providing $2 billion for drones, armoured vehicles, and other critical resources,” Carney said in a post on the social platform X.

Leaders from Canada and Ukraine also signed a joint defense production agreement on Sunday, which “is aimed at deepening bilateral defence-industrial cooperation, expanding and creating new production capacities in Ukraine and Canada, and enhancing resilience and continuity in the supply of defence products,” Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal said in a post on X.

“Today’s arrangements will not only simplify the establishment of Ukrainian companies in Canada and facilitate technology exchange, but also help provide #AFU with modern weapons & military equipment in the long term,” Shmyhal continued.

Zelensky expressed gratitude for Canada’s “readiness to join the PURL program” and for signing the “important documents and clear agreements.”

“A very meaningful meeting with Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney. I am grateful that this visit is taking place today, on such an important day for Ukrainians – Independence Day. This is highly symbolic, as Canada was among the first to recognize the restoration of Ukraine’s independence – to recognize our sovereign state,” the Ukrainian leader wrote on X.