From the Prime Minister’s
Website:
“Prime Minister visits Kyiv
and announces additional support for Ukraine”
Two years ago today, Vladimir
Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and with it, unleashed an
attack on democracy, freedom, and the rules-based international order. Despite
Russia’s relentless assault, Ukrainians are standing strong, and Canada will
stand with them, for as long as it takes.
The Prime Minister, Justin
Trudeau, is visiting Ukraine today, alongside international partners, to
reaffirm Canada’s ongoing and unwavering support for Ukraine.
As part of this visit, Prime
Minister Trudeau and the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, held a
bilateral meeting to discuss the situation on the ground and Ukraine’s needs
over the coming months. The two leaders signed a new, historic agreement on
security cooperation between Canada and Ukraine to establish a strategic
security partnership.
The agreement builds on the G7
Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine, and outlines key, long-term security
commitments for Canada to continue supporting Ukraine as it defends its
sovereignty and territorial integrity, protects its people, and rebuilds its
economy for the future. As part of this commitment, Canada will provide $3.02
billion in critical financial and military support to Ukraine in 2024.
In addition, the Prime
Minister announced new support for Ukraine’s resilience and recovery efforts.
This includes:
$75 million in peace and security
assistance, which includes demining, cyber support, and intelligence support.
$15 million in preservation
assistance, specifically supporting the completion of the National Museum of
the Holodomor-Genocide in Kyiv, helping preserve the memory of victims and
survivors of the Holodomor, a systemic and heinous campaign of deliberate starvation
by the Soviet regime that killed millions across Ukraine in 1932 and 1933.
The Prime Minister also
announced the allocation of funding to the following:
Up to $39 million in development
assistance, to provide access to essential mental health services for
vulnerable populations, help build food systems that are more resilient, and
support efforts by local communities toward reconstruction and recovery.
Over $22 million in humanitarian
assistance, to support trusted United Nations and Red Cross partners in
delivering critical assistance, including emergency health interventions,
protection services, shelter, water, sanitation, and food, as well as the promotion
of respect for international humanitarian law.
Over $18 million in peace,
security, and stabilization assistance, to support projects ranging from
demining, to reducing threats from nuclear or radiological materials and
chemical weapons, to countering disinformation.
While in Ukraine, Prime Minister
Trudeau joined President Zelenskyy, the President of the European Commission,
Ursula von der Leyen, the Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, and the
Prime Minister of Belgium, Alexander De Croo, to visit Hostomel Airport and the
Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine, where they paid tribute to the
countless brave Ukrainians who have been killed, injured, or displaced since
the start of Russia’s war of aggression.
This day serves as a reminder of
what Ukraine is fighting for – the values of peace, justice, and democracy. To
the civilians-turned-soldiers fighting to protect their homeland, the
volunteers providing care to those injured, and all Ukrainians who remain
defiant in the face of Russia’s attacks, know that Canada is with you. We will
continue to work closely with our Allies and international partners to support
Ukraine and Ukrainians as they continue to fight for their freedom, for their
independence, and for democracy.
Quotes
“When Putin ordered his tanks
across the Ukrainian border, he thought Kyiv would fall; that President
Zelenskyy would cave; that the free world would stand by. Two years on,
Ukrainians are resolute as they defend democracy, freedom, and their identity –
and Canada’s support is unwavering. Today, standing shoulder to shoulder with
our Allies and partners, Canada committed to further assistance, including
military and humanitarian support, for Ukraine. We will stand with Ukraine with
whatever it takes, for as long as it takes. Slava Ukraini!”
The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau,
Prime Minister of Canada
“As the brave people of Ukraine
continue their heroic resistance against Putin’s illegal and barbaric invasion,
after two long years of brutal fighting, Canada is unwavering in our support
for Ukraine. Today we stand united and say to the people of Ukraine: We will
keep the faith. We will never abandon you. Our determination is absolute. Slava
Ukraini!”
The Hon. Chrystia Freeland,
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
“On the second anniversary of
Russia’s illegal, full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we salute the exemplary
courage and strength of the people of Ukraine. Canada will always stand with
them in their fight for freedom. Today’s agreement demonstrates Canada’s commitment
to providing Ukraine with the assistance that it needs to fight against Russian
aggression and win. Ukraine’s fight is our fight too, and we will be there for
Ukrainians until they win this war.”
The Hon. Bill Blair, Minister
of National Defence
Quick Facts
This is Prime Minister Trudeau’s
third visit to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion on
February 24, 2022. The Prime Minister was accompanied for this visit by the
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland, and the
Minister of National Defence, Bill Blair.
In Ukraine, the Prime Minister
met bilaterally and multilaterally with:
The President of Ukraine,
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
The President of the European
Commission, Ursula von der Leyen
The Prime Minister of Italy,
Giorgia Meloni
The Prime Minister of Belgium,
Alexander De Croo
The measures announced today
build on other recent announcements, including:
New sanctions targeting over 160
individuals and entities that are part of Russia’s military-industrial sector
and have helped facilitate sanctions evasion.
Enacting groundbreaking
legislation that enables the assets of sanctioned individuals and individuals
to be seized, for the benefit of Ukraine.
Working with G7 allies to ensure
that Russian central banks assets remain frozen in our jurisdictions until
Russia compensates Ukraine for the damage it has caused.
Contributions of $60 million to
the Ukraine Defense Contact Group Air Force Capability Coalition to support the
setup of a sustainable F-16 fighter aircraft capability in Ukraine and over
$273 million in new equipment for Canadian Armed Forces personnel in Latvia,
where Canada leads the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s enhanced Forward
Presence Battle Group.
Canada’s co-chairing, with
Ukraine, of the new International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian
Children, which coordinates international efforts to bring Ukrainian children –
who were unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred by Russia – home to their
families and communities.
An investment of over $475,000 to
support Pro Bono Ontario’s Ukrainian Refugee Legal Relief Initiative, which
assists Ukrainian nationals seeking refuge in Canada as a result of Russia’s
armed invasion of Ukraine.
Since the beginning of 2022,
Canada has committed over $13.3 billion in funding to support Ukraine. This
includes:
$4 billion in military
assistance, such as M777 howitzers, Leopard 2 main battle tanks, armoured
combat support vehicles, hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition,
high-resolution drone cameras, thermal clothing, body armour, fuel, and more.
$7.4 billion in financial
support.
$352.5 million in humanitarian
assistance, including support for emergency health interventions, protection
services, and essentials such as shelter, water, sanitation, and food.
Programming also addresses child protection, mental health support, and prevention
and response to sexual and gender-based violence.
$186 million in development
assistance, such as $15 million from Canada’s $100 million contribution to the
Canada-International Finance Corporation Facility for Resilient Food Systems.
$198 million in security and
stabilization assistance.
Canadian Armed Forces members are
supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the United Kingdom and Poland under
Operation UNIFIER, providing training on a range of military skills. Between
2015 and 2024, Canada trained more than 40,000 members of the Armed Forces of
Ukraine as part of this operation. They have also been assisting with the
delivery of military aid for Ukraine from Canada and on behalf of our Allies
and partners.
Since the start of Russia’s
full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Canada has welcomed more than 220,000
Ukrainians. We are helping Ukrainian families find a safe, temporary home and
have put support services in place for their arrival. This includes temporary financial
assistance and access to federally funded settlement services, such as language
training and employment-related services.
Canada and Ukraine have long been
steadfast partners and close friends. In 1991, Canada became the first Western
country to recognize Ukraine’s independence. Today, 1.3 million people of
Ukrainian descent call Canada home – the largest Ukrainian diaspora in the
Western world. In 2022, total bilateral trade between our two countries was
valued at over $421 million.
^ All of this: the Visits and the
Aid will help Ukraine. ^
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