Kyiv, August 25, 2025 – The Europe Today: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday announced details of a new $2 billion military aid package for Ukraine and pledged that Canada is prepared to reintroduce troops in some capacity should a ceasefire be reached in the ongoing war with Russia.
Carney unveiled the package during his first official visit to Ukraine, coinciding with the country’s Independence Day celebrations. Speaking in historic Sophia Square alongside President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he underscored Canada’s long-term commitment to Ukraine’s security, even as efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration to broker peace have yet to yield results.
More than $1 billion of the new assistance will be used to procure high-priority equipment from the United States via NATO, as well as ammunition, drones, and armoured vehicles from Canadian suppliers. An additional $220 million will fund advanced drone, counter-drone, and electronic warfare capabilities, including joint ventures between Canadian and Ukrainian industries. Both countries also signed a Letter of Intent on Joint Defence Production, reinforcing industrial cooperation.
Carney reiterated Canada’s support for the “coalition of the willing” and did not rule out deploying troops in the future, either in a training capacity or as part of a peacekeeping force. Canada previously stationed forces in Ukraine under Operation Unifier until the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022, after which training missions were shifted to the United Kingdom and Poland.
The Canadian leader’s visit, conducted under strict security, took place as Kyiv remains a frequent target of Russian missile and drone strikes. He warned that any peace deal must come with firm security guarantees, declaring: “When that peace comes, we cannot simply trust and verify — we must deter and fortify.”
Carney dismissed Russian demands for Ukraine to cede territories in the south and east, stressing that Moscow cannot dictate Kyiv’s future security arrangements. His remarks come amid Western discussions on postwar guarantees, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and senior European officials recently holding talks in Kyiv.
In parallel with its military commitments, Canada also signed a strategic defence agreement with the European Union to coordinate joint procurement and production, with drones highlighted as a key area of cooperation. The announcement follows a U.S.–Ukraine $50 billion drone initiative unveiled last week.
The additional Canadian aid, first outlined at the G7 Summit in Kananaskis in June, further strengthens Ottawa’s role as a leading supporter of Ukraine. Carney emphasized that history’s lessons demand vigilance, warning: “We know that Putin can never be trusted. True peace and security will require enduring guarantees for Ukraine.”
