Canada and Ukraine sign 100-year agreement to work together on defence, energy and trade

Canada and Ukraine are deepening ties with the signing of a 100-year partnership to further their work together in areas such as defence, energy, technology, and trade and investment.

This was one of a series of announcements made by Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday morning in Calgary at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, where he sat side by side with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to sign non-binding agreements between the two countries.

“This relationship has flourished for over a hundred years and it will flourish in the century ahead, long after this war ends. Ukrainians helped build Canada, and Canadians will help rebuild Ukraine,” Mr. Carney said on Thursday.

Moving forward, he said Canada will work more closely with Ukraine on a number of fronts. This includes through a new long-term partnership to jointly produce uncrewed systems, counter-drone technologies and munitions, combining Ukrainian expertise with Canadian manufacturing and technology.

Additionally, Mr. Carney said Canada will send Ukraine one-third of all drones made by domestic companies through its recently launched national drone marketplace, to Ukraine. The first contracts awarded through this marketplace, which is meant to expedite the production and delivery of the low-cost technologies to the Canadian Armed Forces, were announced by the federal government today.

A new Ukrainian-Canadian joint venture was also announced by Mr. Carney on Thursday, bring together General Dynamics Mission Systems Canada, an Ottawa-based subsidiary of the U.S. defence giant, and Ukrainian company GreenTech to produce uncrewed systems for use in the war. A similar joint venture was established in May, between Canadian drone company Sentinel R&D and Ukrainian drone company Airlogix.

“Together, we will build the capabilities our militaries need, create good jobs at home, support Ukraine on the battlefield, and strengthen the sovereignty of both our nations,” Mr. Carney said on Thursday.

The Prime Minister said Canada will also deliver a $350-million equipment package of critical air defence interceptors through the U.S.’s Joint Ukraine Multinational Program – Services, Training and Articles Rapid Timeline, and provide more than $430-million in loan guarantees for Ukrainians to buy gas throughout the winter.

Energy is in short supply in Ukraine, where much of the country’s critical infrastructure has been pummeled by Moscow. The impacts of this are felt much more acutely during the winter when rolling blackouts are a constant in Ukraine.

Mr. Zelensky arrived in Calgary Wednesday night ahead of his scheduled meeting with Mr. Carney on Thursday, as well as the cabinet meeting in nearby Banff, Alta. where Mr. Zelensky will make remarks. He and his wife, Olena Zelenska, are also scheduled to visit Toronto and North Bay, before leaving Canada on Friday.

In his opening remarks to the press on Thursday morning, Mr. Zelensky thanked Canada for the invitation to visit and for the country’s ongoing support.

“We need strong friends. We are thankful that we have such strong partners as Canadians,” he said.