Ukrainian President Valodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held “substantive” talks on Tuesday to discuss, among other things, Ukraine’s defense needs.
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“We talked about strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities in the face of threats and risks of escalation on the front lines,” Zelenskyy summarized on his Twitter account.
The latest tranche of Canada’s military aid dates back to mid-November, when Mr. Trudeau announced a $500 million envelope to purchase military equipment on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali.
“I have expressed my gratitude for Canada’s strong support to Ukraine. We agreed on the steps to implement the peace formula,” the president continued, referring to a peace framework proposed by Ukraine.
The ten-point plan includes Russia restoring Ukraine’s borders. The proposal was quickly rejected by Moscow.
Both sides accuse each other of not having presented an overture to the peace discussion, which prolongs the almost eleven-month war.
For its part, Justin Trudeau’s office said the two leaders had discussed the situation on the ground.
“The Prime Minister reiterated Canada’s commitment to provide humanitarian, military, financial and other assistance to the government and people of Ukraine for as long as they need it to ensure a free, democratic and secure future,” summarized Mr. Trudeau’s cabinet .
The year 2023 began with a new escalation of the conflict when Ukraine admitted to carrying out a missile attack that killed at least 89 soldiers, according to Russia, and several hundred, according to Ukraine.
Russia has responded by continuing its missile and drone bombardments, which have been aimed at Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure since early autumn.