Canada is set to join a partnership with key allies to provide air defence missiles to Ukraine. Defence Minister Bill Blair made the announcement during his visit to the United Kingdom. The Canadian government will contribute $33 million towards this initiative, which is part of the $500 million fund announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in June 2023 to support military assistance in Ukraine.
The partnership was initially formed three months ago by the United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United States. Its goal is to supply Ukraine with short- and medium-range air defence missiles to enhance its ability to defend against Russian missile and drone attacks.
Canadian Armed Forces personnel have been involved in training courses at Lydd Military Training Camp for over a year. These courses have trained approximately 2,600 Ukrainian recruits in various skills such as weapons handling, battlefield first aid, and patrol tactics. In addition to this training support, Canada has provided extensive aid to Ukraine, totaling $8 billion over the past year and a half. This includes $1.8 billion in military assistance, covering items such as weapons, ammunition, military vehicles, drone cameras, and winter clothing.