Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday that Canada would provide Ukraine with a $500 million loan and arms as the threat of a Russian attack grows.
Regarding the lethal military equipment, the Prime Minister specified that the value of the equipment supplied amounted to $7.8 million. As for the loan, Trudeau said it was in addition to another $120 million previously announced.
The Prime Minister said he spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday to reiterate Canada’s unwavering support. He added that he also spoke with other European leaders over the weekend.
According to Mr. Trudeau, the arms and ammunition promised by Ottawa respond to a specific request from Ukraine. The country therefore joins the United States, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Estonia and Lithuania, which have also pledged to supply arms to Ukraine.
The decision by the Canadian government and its allies aims to “deter Russia from continuing its aggression against Ukraine,” Trudeau said at a press conference on Monday.
In English, he added that it was important for Canadians and the rest of the world to know that Canada will continue to support Ukraine, its independence, its integrity and its sovereignty, as well as its right to defend itself.
On Sunday, the Department of Defense announced that Canada would move its troops out of Ukraine, a move that represents the strongest signal that a Russian invasion is imminent.
Canadian soldiers serving in Ukraine for a local troop training mission are temporarily stationed elsewhere in Europe. For security reasons, no details were given on the number of soldiers displaced and their whereabouts.