Article content
Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a declaration of a 100-year partnership between their two countries, as Canada pledged to boost its drone production capacity and send one-third to Ukraine.
Sign In or Create an Account
or View more offersArticle content
Carney said the agreement, signed by the two leaders in Calgary on Thursday, will build up Canada’s sovereign drone capabilities and deepen ties with Ukraine. The United Kingdom inked a similar partnership with Ukraine last year.
Article contentWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.Article content
Story continues below
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
“In the coming months, we will codify a long-term framework for cooperation across defence and security, trade and investment, reconstruction, energy, critical minerals and technology,” Carney said in prepared remarks.
Article contentArticle content
The prime minister said Canada will also launch a national drone marketplace, based on a successful Ukrainian model. It will give the Canadian Armed Forces direct access to about 400 suppliers, which he said will increase the number of drones available to the military tenfold.
Article content
“This is a key part of our plan to build the industrial capacity to produce millions of drones within the next two years,” Carney said. “And, importantly, one third of all the drones we manufacture will go to support Ukraine’s defence of its homeland.”
Article content
General Dynamics Mission Systems Canada and GreenTech, a Ukrainian defence manufacturer, signed an agreement to boost industrial cooperation.
Article content
Canada and Ukraine will partner to jointly produce uncrewed systems, counter-drone technologies and priority munitions, which would combine “Ukrainian battlefield experience with Canadian manufacturing, software and AI,” Carney said.
Article content
Story continues below
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Russia continued its strikes against Ukraine on Thursday, killing four people and injuring more than 60 in a drone attack on a shopping mall in the central city of Pavlohrad, Zelenskyy said on X. Dozens more were wounded in bomb strikes on the eastern city of Kramatorsk.
Article contentRead More
- Canadian companies form coalition to push Ottawa to invest in sovereign drone supply chain
- Canadian companies eye speed, quick contracts from Ottawa’s new drone marketplace
- Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
“We are working as intensively as possible with our partners so that we can protect Ukrainians from this Russian terror,” Zelenskyy said on X.
Article content
As well, Canada and Ukraine finalized a $350 million agreement to deliver air defence interceptors through the United States Jumpstart mechanism.
Article content
Canada is also providing $430 million in guaranteed loans for Ukraine to purchase natural gas.
Article content
While Ukraine can intercept a large share of Russian drones, it faces a dangerous shortage of advanced air-defence missiles needed to counter ballistic attacks.
Article content
Ukraine has meanwhile stepped up strikes on Russian energy facilities in an effort to undermine the Kremlin’s ability to finance the war. In an unprecedented attack this week, Ukrainian drones targeted Russian gas assets in a remote Arctic region on Wednesday.
Article content
—With assistance from Melissa Shin.
Article content
Article contentWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.Article content