Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has pledged an additional $650 million in military aid to Ukraine during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Canada’s Parliament. Trudeau expressed his support for Ukraine’s defense against Russia and praised President Zelenskyy for being a champion of democracy. He emphasized the importance of not compromising with the aggressor and called for a future based on the rules-based order.
President Zelenskyy thanked Canada for its support in Ukraine’s military efforts and NATO ambitions. He commended Canada for its commitment to justice and its refusal to engage in political hatred and enmity. This was Zelenskyy’s second address to the Canadian Parliament, with the first taking place virtually in March 2022. Since then, Canada has been providing continuous military, financial, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.
Trudeau’s announcement of an additional $650 million commitment over three years includes providing 50 armored vehicles, including medical evacuation vehicles to be built in London, Ontario. The manufacturer of these vehicles was not immediately disclosed, but General Dynamics, which has a plant in London, already has a contract to build light armored vehicles for Ukraine.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Canada has provided over $8.9 billion in assistance to Ukraine since January 2022, making it the highest per-capita direct financial supporter among G7 countries. The United States has been the largest individual supporter of Ukraine in terms of non-relativized contributions.
Prior to his visit to Canada, Zelenskyy visited Washington, where President Joe Biden approved a $325 million security assistance package for Ukraine. This package includes air defense and anti-tank systems sourced from existing U.S. stockpiles. President Biden has also requested Congress to authorize an additional $24 billion in aid for Ukraine as part of a supplemental budget proposal.
Canada, along with other Western countries, has committed to supporting Ukraine “as long as it takes” in its fight against the Russian invasion. The government of Canada has launched negotiations with Ukraine over a bilateral security agreement, with the aim of pairing Canadian capabilities with Ukrainian needs. Other G7 countries are also engaging in similar discussions, linking their assistance to Ukraine’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and reforms in areas such as the rule of law, human rights, and freedom of the press.
Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, President Zelenskyy has taken steps to counter Russian influence in Ukraine and suppress dissidence, including consolidating TV outlets and banning rival parties. Ukraine is currently engaged in a counteroffensive against Russian forces, with fighting concentrated near the Russian border and in areas that have been under armed conflict between Ukraine and Russia-backed separatists since 2014.