LAST week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Canada to explore and revitalize the vistas of friendship between the two states. Since January 2022, Canada has committed more than $8.9 billion in multifaceted support to Ukraine, including $4.95 billion in direct financial support and over $1.8 billion in military aid ranging from Leopard 2 tanks and air defence and artillery systems for armoured vehicles, ammunition and more. On multiple levels, the two governments share a long lasting scope of mutual understanding—-cementing the bonds of bilateralism between Kyiv and Ottawa.
Historically put, On December 2, 1991, Canada became the first western country to recognize Ukraine’s independence. Canada and Ukraine have enjoyed a close relationship since. This bilateral relationship is strengthened by warm people-to-people ties, rooted in the Ukrainian-Canadian community of 1.3 million people. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has drawn a strong official and popular reaction from Canadians, and Canada will play an important role in the defence of Ukraine and in its future.
Yet Candida’s support to the Ukrainian crisis is not only evidenced by the Russia-Ukraine war in 2021, but also is manifested by other initiatives that Canada took for the support of Ukraine after Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014. Operation UNIFIER is not the only Canadian military contribution to Ukraine. Canada provides military assistance to that country in a number of different ways. As a case in point, in April 2017, Canada signed the Canada–Ukraine Defence Cooperation Arrangement, which identifies areas of mutual cooperation, such as defence policy, military education, and defence research, development and production.
Since 1991, Canada has been one of Ukraine’s leading bilateral development assistance partners. Between 2014 and 2021, Canada committed a noteworthy economic assistance. The Canada–Ukraine Free Trade Agreement’s Environment Chapter entered into force on August 1, 2017. It commits both countries to encourage high levels of domestic environmental protection, to promote sustainable development and sound environmental management, and to encourage public engagement. Since 2022, Canada has committed an additional $96 million in development assistance to support Ukraine’s emerging needs in the face of Russia’s illegal invasion. Canada has also committed more than $369 million in humanitarian funding since the crisis began in 2014. This includes $320 million in 2022-23 to respond to urgent needs such as food, safe drinking water, sanitation services, emergency health care and temporary shelters.
In 27 January 2022, Canada and Ukraine jointly announced the launch of negotiations to modernize the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement, further reinforcing the rules-based international trading system and strengthening Canada’s connectivity to the region. .In March 2022, Canadian Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced a special visa policy– to the Ukrainian citizens—allowing a limited number of Ukrainians to come to Canada to live, work or study here for up to two years. Moreover, Canada and Ukraine are steadfast partners and close friends. Alongside its international partners and allies, and in solidarity with the government and people of Ukraine, Canada unequivocally condemns Russia’s decision to recognize the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in Ukraine. Canada accuses Russia of violating international law in terms of Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and its human rights.
The Canadian Congress (UCC) is an instrumental forum to work closely with the Government of Canada ‘’to strengthen Canada’s Ukrainian defence and security relationship with Ukraine to ensure that Ukrainian government control returns to Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories and secure a lasting peace in Europe. Ukraine-Russia war. ’Canada’s military assistance to Ukraine includes eight Leopard 2 main battle tanks and one armoured recovery vehicle, a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) with associated munitions, 39 armoured combat support vehicles, anti-tank weapons, small arms, M777 howitzers and associated ammunition, high-resolution drone cameras, satellite communications equipment, and more. Canada and several Allies have also agreed to establish a joint coalition for the training of the Ukrainian Air Force in operating and maintaining F-16 fighter aircraft.
In addition, Canada played a leading role in creating the C$500mm ($365 million) five-year bond, issued in November 2022, was designed to direct proceeds from the bond to Ukraine through the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF), which administered the account for Ukraine. On September 22, 2023, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Ottawa “to reiterate Canada’s ongoing military, economic, humanitarian, and development support for Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against Russia’s brutal war of aggression.” It is Zelenskyy’s first visit to Canada since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
The Canadian Prime Minister and the Ukrainian President highlighted the close people-to-people ties between their two countries, with a Ukrainian-Canadian community of 1.3 million people, as well as more than 175,000 Ukrainians and their family members welcomed by Canada since Russia’s brutal and unjustifiable war began. Additionally, they both discussed the modernized Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA), which was signed later in the day. The new CUFTA supports long-term security, stability and economic development in Ukraine, while also ensuring high-quality market access terms for Canadian businesses participating in Ukraine’s economic recovery and creating good middle-class jobs in both countries.
The two leaders also agreed for Canada and Ukraine to further cooperate on energy security. The ongoing Russian war in Ukraine remained the core of their discussion. “Canada’s support for Ukraine with weapons and equipment has allowed us to save thousands, thousands of lives. This includes air defence systems, armoured vehicles, artillery shells, and very significant assistance in de-mining,” Zelenskyy said, speaking in the House of Commons. To conclude, this kind of an all-time growing partnership between Ottawa and Kyiv is the manifestation of two countries’ mutual trust enrichment and bilateral understanding. Needless to say, Canada has been an ardent supporter of Ukraine’s NATO-bid. It may also be argued that as Canada holds considerable Influence over the Ukrainian affairs, Ottawa’s peace diplomacy could be of paramount importance to propel a peace agreement between Kyiv and Moscow. The international community has rocking hopes that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s peace exploring approach may play a pivotal role in this regard.
—The writer, an independent ‘IR’ researcher-cum-international law analyst based in Pakistan, is member of European Consortium for Political Research Standing Group on IR, Critical Peace & Conflict Studies, also a member of Washington Foreign Law Society and European Society of International Law. He deals with the strategic and nuclear issues.
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