Ukrainian President Valodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held a ‘substantial’ discussion on Tuesday to discuss Ukraine’s defense needs, among other things.
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“We discussed the strengthening of Ukraine’s defensive capabilities in the face of threats and risks of escalation on the front,” summarized Mr. Zelensky on his Twitter account.
The last tranche of Canadian military aid dates back to mid-November when Mr. Trudeau announced an envelope of $500 million for the purchase of military equipment, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali.
“I expressed my gratitude for Canada’s strong support for Ukraine. We have agreed on the steps for implementing the peace formula,” continued the President, referring to a peace framework proposed by Ukraine.
The ten-point plan includes the restoration of Ukraine’s borders by Russia. The proposal was quickly rejected by Moscow.
Both sides accuse each other of not presenting an overture to discuss peace, prolonging the war that has lasted for nearly 11 months.
For its part, the office of Justin Trudeau indicated that the two leaders spoke regarding the situation on the ground.
“The Prime Minister reiterated Canada’s commitment to provide humanitarian, military, financial and other assistance to the government and people of Ukraine for as long as they need it to secure a free future, democratic and secure,” summed up Mr. Trudeau’s cabinet.
The year 2023 opened with a new escalation of the conflict, Ukraine admitting to having carried out a missile strike which would have killed at least 89 soldiers, according to Russia, or even a few hundred according to Ukraine.
Russia has responded by continuing its missile and drone bombardments that have targeted Ukraine’s cities and energy infrastructure since early fall.