Prime Minister Mark Carney has disclosed that his administration will allocate $270 million to assist Ukraine in acquiring essential military capabilities to defend against Russia’s full-scale invasion. The announcement was made during Carney’s visit to Armenia on Monday, where he is participating in the European Political Community summit, a gathering focused on strategic collaboration in politics, security, and infrastructure.
The funding will be used to purchase items from a NATO list, increasing Canada’s total financial support for Ukraine to $25.8 billion. Carney emphasized that this contribution is a piece of a larger puzzle in a conflict where Ukraine is making progress.
Prior to his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Carney expressed Canada’s unwavering support for Ukraine, stating that the latest financial aid will bolster Ukraine’s defense efforts and pave the way for peace and prosperity. Zelenskyy conveyed appreciation for the moral and financial backing from Canada.
Canada’s participation in the summit marks it as the first non-European nation to attend, with the summit being held biannually since its initiation after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. During the summit, Carney stressed the importance of countries confronting the current global reality rather than dwelling on the past.
Carney highlighted the potential for partnerships with Europe, emphasizing the need to address ongoing global transformations in technology, energy, commerce, and geopolitics. He emphasized the importance of engaging with the world as it is, rejecting nostalgia as a strategic approach and advocating for a more collaborative and forward-thinking world.
Carney’s visit also included meetings with European leaders to discuss strengthening collaborations in various sectors such as supply chains, critical minerals, energy, and technologies. Additionally, he met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, expressing gratitude for the invitation to attend the summit during a critical period for Europe and its values.
Meetings with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez were also on Carney’s agenda for Monday, as he continues his diplomatic engagements at the summit.