Canada has been accused by Moscow of being a “warmonger” after entering into a drone-production agreement with Ukraine. In response, Defence Minister David McGuinty affirmed that Canada will not be swayed by intimidation.
Two weeks ago, Ottawa unveiled a collaboration between Canadian and Ukrainian drone manufacturers, potentially leading to the deployment of Canadian-made drones to Ukraine’s front lines.
The partnership involves Ukrainian company Airlogix and Canadian drone producer Sentinel R&D, located in Hamilton, Ontario.
During a press conference in Moscow on Wednesday, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced plans to disclose the address of the Ontario-based company involved in the deal.
She criticized the agreement, claiming it enables Ukraine to conceal crucial military resources in another country and asserting that Canada’s actions contradict its peacekeeping image by behaving as a “warmonger.”
The Russian ambassador in Ottawa suggested that the drone pact indicates Canada’s attempt to benefit from the ongoing conflict, which Russia denies as a war. Both he and Zakharova emphasized that Moscow is factoring in Canada’s drone agreement into its military and political strategies.
Canada’s Ongoing Support for Ukraine
McGuinty emphasized that Canadian military officials are dedicated to safeguarding the nation and reiterated Ottawa’s commitment to backing Ukraine.
“It’s expected that the Russians would express criticism, as they do not approve of NATO’s collaboration to aid a country in need,” he stated during a media briefing at Parliament Hill.
He added, “We will continue to closely monitor the situation and uphold our steadfast support for our Ukrainian counterparts.”
Canada has allocated over $25.5 billion in total assistance to Ukraine, including $8.5 billion in military aid, since the start of the full-scale invasion.
Russia seized Crimea in 2014, and its complete invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has spurred advancements in drone technology, leading to a significant rise in casualties during the ongoing conflict.
Both Ukraine and Russia have utilized drones to target locations deep inside each other’s territories, extending beyond the front lines of the conflict.