Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal in Toronto this morning as Ottawa is pledging additional help for Kiev.
Joined by Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and Defence Minister Anita Anand, Trudeau said, “Canada is a true and steadfast friend to Ukraine,” and “will continue to be there with whatever it takes, as long as it takes.”
Since Russia invaded its neighbour in February 2022, Ottawa provided over $5.4 billion in total aid to Ukraine and has issued a new $2.4 billion loan included in the 2023 budget.
The budget also promised nearly $85 million for humanitarian assistance and $200 million in military aid, with eight Leopard 2 battle tanks pledged earlier this year and new equipment announced today.
“This will help the armed forces of Ukraine continue to defend their freedom and fight for Ukraine’s territorial integrity,” Trudeau said.
Canada will send 21,000 assault rifles, 38 machine guns, and over 2 million rounds of ammunition.
However, as Kiev is preparing for a spring counter offensive in the east of the country, Ukrainian Prime Minister Shmyhal asked for more help and stricter sanctions.
Trudeau announced new punitive measures targeting 14 Russian individuals and over 40 Russian and Belarusian entities. But Ottawa and Kiev are also aiming to strengthen commercial and cultural ties.
The two countries signed a new agreement to facilitate work and travel for Ukrainian and Canadian youth and an updated Canada-Ukraine free trade deal. According to Trudeau, it will serve as a model for the “strong engagement that Ukraine can and will have not just with Canada, but around the world.”
Speaking of allies, the Canadian and Ukrainian prime ministers also addressed the apparent leak of top-secret U.S. documents that seems to have caught both countries by surprise.
The leaked documents circulating on social media over the weekend included details related to Kiev’s military capabilities, as well as communications between Moscow and pro-Russia hackers regarding an alleged attack on Canadian infrastructure.
Trudeau confirmed that no such attack actually happened, stating he was aware of a new cyberattack targeting the prime minister’s official website which was taken offline as he was meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart today.
A pro-Russia hacking group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Trudeau dismissed it as not surprising, adding that “Russia being able to bring down an official Government of Canada web page for a few hours is no way going to dissuade us from our unshakable support of Ukraine.”
