Denys Shmyhal and Justin Trudeau on April 11, 2023. Photo: AP
NP-UN National Affairs Desk
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada will provide additional military aid to Ukraine during a press conference with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Toronto, April 11.
Canada is spending $59 million to procure for Ukraine 21,000 5.56mm assault rifles, 38 7.62mm machine guns, and over 2.4 million rounds of ammunition to support these weapons as well as small arms already in use by the Armed Forces of Ukraine from weapons maker Colt Canada, headquartered in Kitchener, Ont.
This donation comes from the remaining funds across the Government of Canada’s various funding envelopes for military assistance to Ukraine.
Trudeau also announced Canada has disbursed a $2.4 billion loan to the Government of Ukraine to support essential services, such as pension payments, purchasing fuel, and restoring damaged energy infrastructure. This funding, announced in Budget 2023, brings Canada’s total commitment to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion to over $8 billion.
During the visit, the leaders focused on efforts to rebuild Ukraine, including by hosting Canadian business leaders to discuss opportunities for Canadian trade and investment in Ukraine, particularly the essential role that private sector investment will play in Ukraine’s long-term reconstruction.
To strengthen our trade ties and help support Ukraine’s economic recovery, Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Shmyhal signed a joint declaration on the conclusion of negotiations for the modernization of the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA), and underscored the need to complete the processes to implement it as quickly as possible. A modernized CUFTA supports long-term security, stability, and economic development in Ukraine, as well as the creation of good middle-class jobs here in Canada.
Canada and Ukraine signed a bilateral Youth Mobility Agreement, which young people from both countries will benefit from when travel to Ukraine becomes safe. The Agreement further deepens the strong bonds between our peoples and our two countries. It will open up new opportunities for youth to work and travel, including opportunities for Canadian youth to help rebuild Ukraine once Russia withdraws its forces from the country.
To maintain the pressure on the Russian regime, Prime Minister Trudeau announced new sanctions targeting 14 Russian individuals and 34 entities complicit in Russia’s war in Ukraine, including several security targets linked to the Wagner Group and Russia’s aviation sector. In addition, to further pressure Putin’s enablers in Belarus, the Prime Minister announced additional sanctions on nine entities related to the Belarusian financial sector.
Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal with Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and UCC Community Leadership Delegation: Taras Bahriy, President UCC Ontario Provincial Council; Slawko Borys, Chair Ukrainian Credit Union Ltd; Orysia Boychuk, President UCC Alberta Provincial Council; Alexandra Chyczij, UCC National President; Paul Grod, President Ukrainian World Congress; Victor Hetmanczuk, Canada Ukraine Foundation; Jurij Klufas, President Ukrainian National Federation; Dmytro Malyk, Vice President UCC Manitoba Provincial Council; Roman Medyk, Chair of BCU Foundation; Ihor Michalchyshyn, UCC National CEO, Petro Schturyn, President UCC Toronto, Ann Szyptur, Vice President UCC National, Krystina Waler, Temerty Family Foundation, Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Former MP. Photo: UCC
Prior to meeting with Trudeau, Shmyhal met Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and representatives of Canada’s Ukrainian community.
“I thanked [Freeland] for defending Ukraine's interests. Our goal remains unchanged. It is the victory over the aggressor and the rebuilding of a strong, democratic Ukraine as part of the EU and NATO. Our country needs the solidarity of every Ukrainian around the world,” Shmyhal said.
He added that Canada had given a lot to Ukrainians but Ukrainians had also given a lot to Canada.
“From the two events that I attended: the private meeting with DPM Chrystia Freeland, UCC President Alexandra Chyczij and community representatives in the morning and the open press conference at lunch time it definitely looks like Ukraine is in solid competent hands. Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal was both prepared and in full control of the issues. He broke everything down very ably into immediate defense and long-term reconstruction. He described in depth the current activities that are engaged to combat long standing issues of corruption and Russian disinformation,” said Jurij Klufas, President of the Ukrainian National Federation, Executive Producer of Kontakt Television and Chairs of the NP-UN Board of Directors.
During Prime Minister Shmyhal’s time in Canada, Saskatoon-based Cameco and Ukraine’s state-owned Energoatom signed a major supply contract in which Cameco will provide the necessary uranium to meet Ukraine’s nuclear fuel needs until 2035. This supply contract, which builds on the partnership agreement signed earlier this year, will help Ukraine keep the lights on, while creating and supporting good, middle-class jobs here in Canada.
Prime Minister Trudeau reiterated to Prime Minister Shmyhal that Canada will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.
“Canada remains steadfast in our support for Ukraine and to helping Ukrainians defend their sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence. I am incredibly happy to welcome Prime Minister Shmyhal to Canada and to work directly with him to keep doing everything we can to support Ukrainians, deepen our ties, promote our shared vision of a peaceful and secure future, and create economic opportunities for people in both our countries.”
The Prime Minister was accompanied by Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly, and Minister of National Defence, Anita Anand.
Since Russia’s illegal occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea in 2014, Canada has imposed sanctions on more than 2,400 individuals and entities in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. Many of these sanctions have been undertaken in coordination with Canada’s allies and partners.
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