Canada provides military equipment to Ukraine

Canada delivers weapons to Ukraine

On Ukraine's Independence Day, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Kyiv, marking a significant moment in the ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia. During his visit, Carney announced a weapons package worth one billion Canadian dollars (approximately 617 million euros) to support Ukraine in its defense against the Russian army.

The weapons package, scheduled for delivery in September, includes drones, ammunition, and unspecified heavy military equipment. However, no specific details were provided about the troop contingents that might be deployed. Carney hinted at the possibility of Canadian troops being present to secure a peace agreement, though no specific details about the Western military contingent or troop presence have been confirmed yet.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the Canadian support, citing past experiences such as the Budapest Memorandum, in which Moscow gave security guarantees for eastern Ukraine, as reasons for distrusting Russia. Zelenskyy categorically rejects any Russian involvement in peacekeeping efforts.

Germany is expected to participate in a potential peacekeeping mission, though on a smaller scale than large deployments like in Lithuania. The soldiers ensuring a possible peace mission would likely be German Bundeswehr troops, though actual deployment depends on final security guarantees in the peace agreement.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov suggests that the veto powers of the UN Security Council, including Russia, should guarantee peace. Carney states that Vladimir Putin is not trustworthy, echoing Zelenskyy's sentiments.

Discussions about the Western military presence for peacekeeping are ongoing. Both Carney and Zelenskyy emphasize the need for Kyiv to have reliable guarantees for peace and security. Several supporters of Ukraine have expressed their readiness to deploy troop contingents to prevent new Russian military attacks. However, Kyiv finds this option unacceptable as Russia could potentially block it at any time.

As the situation in Ukraine continues to evolve, the international community remains vigilant, with Canada and other Western nations pledging their support to Ukraine in its quest for peace and security.