Military aid is not only welcome, it is necessary and urgent! affirms Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada Yulia Kovaliv. Despite the advance of Ukrainian troops and significant territorial gains, the last few months on the front have been difficult. Ammo is limited and runs out quickly.
The war has no right to a summer break, adds the Ukrainian ambassador. Ottawa has provided $626 million in military aid since the Russian invasion began, but its latest pledge to send military equipment was dated June 30, at the very beginning of summer.
Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada Yulia Kovaliv stressed the urgency for her country to obtain more weapons to fight the Russian invader.
Photo: The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld
Past Canadian military support to Ukraine
- 30 June 2022: 39 armored tactical support vehicles;
- 14 June 2022: 10 replacement tubes for M777 howitzers;
- May 24, 2022: 20,000 artillery shells 155mm standard ammunition (including fuses and cartridges);
- 22 April 2022: 4 M777 howitzers and ammunition;
- March 3, 2022: 4,500 M72 rocket launchers, 750 hand grenades;
- February 28, 2022: 100 anti-tank weapons, Carl Gustav M2 recoilless gun, 2000 rounds of 8mm ammunition;
- February 14, 2022: machine guns, pistols, carbines, 1.5 million rounds of ammunition, sniper rifles.
Source: Government of Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau then announced that Canada was finalizing negotiations for the delivery of 39 armored combat support vehicles to the Ukrainians.
However, contrary to Ukraine’s demands, these vehicles are not armed. Kyiv primarily requires light armored vehicles similar to those used by Canadian forces in Afghanistan.
Kyiv also demands other M777 howitzers, known for their lightness. The Canadian government has already deployed 4 of Canada’s 37 armed forces.
When asked about the issue, Minister of National Defense Anita Anand declined to comment. She says talks with Ukrainian leaders are continuing. Our goal is to be there for Ukraine in the short and long term, she said.
Arms shipments from the West are necessary for Ukraine to continue its victories against Russia. That’s the message hammered into Kyiv, which is urging its allies like Canada to step up their aid. Ottawa opens the door, but experts question its ability to provide more military equipment. A report by Kim Vermette.
Are Canada’s reserves sufficient?
Many experts testify to the reluctance of some Canadian soldiers to send more equipment to Ukrainian troops. The reserves of the Canadian armed forces are limited, they recall.
In Canada over the past twenty years we have seen a kind of neglect of the armed forces and defense capabilities by various governments, explains Christian Leuprecht, professor at the Royal Military College and Queen’s University.
Result: At the beginning of the Russian invasion last February, Canada had no real reserve of equipment – a situation similar to that of other member states of the Atlantic Treaty Organization North (NATO).
“All the equipment that we provide to Ukraine will later be missing from the Canadian Armed Forces. »
— A quote from Christian Leuprecht, Professor of Political Science at the Royal Military College, Queen’s University
He adds that the demands of the Ukrainians far exceed our capabilities.
Minister Anand says it’s not just a question of reserves. It’s not just about the equipment [déjà en la possession] of the Canadian Armed Forces, but also in terms of supplying the industry. What can industry do? she asks.
Canada, along with Britain and the United States, launched a mission to help train Ukraine’s military after Russia ordered the annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014.
Photo: The Canadian Press/Tijana Martin
It’s now or never
Other experts are more of the opinion that the government should not hesitate to supply more arms to the Ukrainian troops.
I don’t think Canada is involved in a more important battle than Ukraine’s victory over Russia, notes Justin Massie, professor of political science at the University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM). He adds that Canada could do more in this regard.
He reminds us that Canada’s political goal is a Ukrainian victory over Russia. In order for the Ukrainians to win the war, they must continue to receive military aid from the West, from NATO, which Canada has.
“You need a certain consistency between what you say and what you do. That’s kind of missing from Canada. »
— A quote from Justin Massie, Professor of Political Science, UQAM
University of Calgary political scientist Jean-Christophe Boucher shares the same view.
The only way out of the crisis is for Ukraine to protect its territory, he explains.
Russia shows no will to end the crisis and in this context Ukraine needs to be armed to defend itself.
The political scientist reminds that the decision will be primarily political: it is up to the Canadian government to decide what we want to broadcast and it is up to the military to comply.