Canada has joined a coalition of key allies, including the United Kingdom (UK), Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United States (US), to send air defense missiles to Ukraine.
The UK-led initiative, which was established on June 15, 2023, helps to provide urgently needed short- and medium-range air defense missiles to help Ukraine defend against Russian missile and drone attacks.
Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair announced on September 17, 2023, that Canada will contribute C$33 (almost US$25) million to the partnership. The announcement was made while Blair visited Canadian soldiers helping train Ukrainian recruits at Lydd Military Training Camp in the UK.
“We understand our responsibility to provide support to Ukraine. We’re listening very closely… about what they need in order to be successful in defending their country and to end this illegal invasion and occupation in their country,” Blair said. “And this part of the collaborative approach, I think, is the right approach for Canada.”
The money will be assigned as part of the C$500 (more than US$370) million in funding for military assistance in Ukraine, which was announced by Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a visit to Kyiv in June 2023.
Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022, Canada has contributed a staggering C$8 (almost US$6) billion in aid to Ukraine, including C$1.8 (US$1.33) billion in military assistance for weapons, ammunition, military vehicles, drone cameras, and winter clothing.
