Prime Minister Mark Carney was proud to welcome President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Halifax at the end of December, marking the Ukrainian President’s second visit to Canada this year and reaffirming the enduring strength of the Canada–Ukraine partnership. At a time when Ukraine stands on the frontline of the global struggle between democracy and authoritarianism, the visit came at a critical moment.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Canada has been unwavering in its support for Ukraine. During their bilateral meeting in Halifax, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Canada’s full and steadfast support for Ukraine and emphasized the importance of maintaining international unity to achieve a just and lasting peace. They were also joined by European leaders on a call to advance coordinated efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s security and support its long-term recovery.
Building on this leadership, Prime Minister Carney announced an additional $2.5 billion in new support for Ukraine. This package includes financing to enable additional International Monetary Fund lending, expanded debt service suspension, and significant loan guarantees to the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to support reconstruction and reinforce Ukraine’s energy security.
This past week, the Prime Minister travelled to Paris to meet with fellow leaders of the Coalition of the Willing, helping accelerate collective efforts toward a negotiated peace supported by strong security guarantees. Through these partnerships, Canada continues to strengthen Ukraine’s defence capabilities, help build a secure, democratic, and prosperous future while deterring Russia from ever again threatening the peace and security of Ukraine or Europe.