The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, and the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, have sealed this Thursday in Calgary a new round of military agreements valued at more than 2.000 million dollars (about 1.240 million euros). Approximately half of these funds will be allocated for Kiev to strengthen the protection of its airspace, along with a new package of sanctions against Russia that the Canadian government will implement.
The head of the Ukrainian state, received by Carney in the city of Calgary, has detailed that the commitments "amount to more than 2.000 million dollars, including a government package of more than 1.000 million dollars intended for our defense, mainly to protect our airspace: missiles for the Patriots, ammunition for the F-16s, and the coproduction of drones."
Zelensky has also emphasized that "Today we have reached an agreement on the 'Drone Deal' and the first document has been signed. This will provide us with additional opportunities to finance the defense of Ukraine, while providing Canada with a new technological advantage proven in modern warfare."
The Ukrainian president has expressed to Carney his recognition for these commitments, which also include the training in Canada of more than twenty Ukrainian pilots, something that, in his words, "will mean a significant reinforcement" for the Air Force of the country. In addition, there is a specific fund of 40 million dollars (almost 25 million euros) aimed at supporting veterans of the Ukrainian Army.
The agreements reached this Thursday also include support for Ukraine's energy system. Zelensky has stressed that "This is important. We have concrete agreements in the energy sector that will strengthen us both for this winter and in the long term."
Carney, who has signed with Zelensky the "Canada-Ukraine Declaration for a 100-Year Partnership," has also announced a contribution of up to six million dollars (3.7 million euros) for the recovery and reintegration of "Ukrainian children illegally deported and forcibly transferred by Russia, which includes support for locating and verifying, rehabilitation, reintegration, and community services."
In parallel, the Canadian Executive will impose sanctions on eight individuals whom it blames for "the rights of Ukrainian children, including their illegal deportation and forced transfer, as well as their exposure to indoctrination and militarization."