Canada Increases Military Aid to Ukraine by $500M

July 11, 2024 TruthUSA

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has committed an additional $500 million in military aid to Ukraine in the ongoing conflict with Russia.

This aid is on top of the $4 billion in military support and $10 billion in humanitarian aid and other assistance that Canada has previously provided to Ukraine.

During the final day of the NATO summit in the United States on July 11, Mr. Trudeau met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as confirmed by the prime minister’s office in a press release.

Canada reaffirmed its strong and continuous support for Ukraine, committing to an additional $500 million in military assistance as part of NATO’s efforts to provide long-term security support. This includes further support for F-16 training for Ukrainian pilots through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group Air Force Capability Coalition.

President Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to Mr. Trudeau on social media, highlighting how the aid will bolster Ukrainian forces on the battlefield.

“Today, alongside Canada’s prime minister, we discussed Ukraine’s defense needs and coordinated cooperation within the coalition of fighter jets,” President Zelenskyy shared in a post on platform X.

Discussions also included extending training missions for Ukrainian pilots and exploring additional training opportunities on Canadian flight simulators.

Other NATO allies have also made financial and military commitments to assist Ukraine, including the United States.

President Joe Biden announced $225 million in military aid for Ukraine on July 11, which includes an extra Patriot missile system for Ukraine’s air defenses.

The U.S. has also committed $150 million in weapons on June 28 and $2.2 billion in Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funds, with a total of more than $50 billion provided in military aid since 2022.

Collectively, NATO allies have pledged $40 billion euros (US$43.28 billion) in military aid over the coming year.

This aid package includes the establishment of a NATO command in Wiesbaden, Germany to provide training and deliver security assistance to Ukraine, along with logistical nodes in eastern member countries, as stated by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Stoltenberg highlighted commitments made at the summit, such as immediate military aid like air defense systems and F-16 jets, 20 bilateral security agreements for Ukraine, and the establishment of a joint training center in Bydgoszca, Poland.

The decision to provide aid was made after all 32 NATO members agreed that Ukraine is on an “irreversible” path to NATO membership.

Reuters, The Canadian Press, and The Associated Press contributed to this article.

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