Canada announces new support for Ukraine | War in Ukraine
The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, at a pro-Ukrainian demonstration in Toronto on February 24.
The Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday announced increased support for Ukraine and a new hydrogen deal with Europe alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
< p class="e-p">Trudeau said Canada will extend the engineering training mission in Ukraine until at least next fall. Canadian medical trainers will also be deployed to help Ukrainian forces acquire combat medical skills.
Canada is already providing far more than its fair share of effort compared to other [countries allied with Ukraine] and going far beyond what is necessary. So I want to thank Canada for that,” Ms. von der Leyen said at a joint press conference with Mr. Trudeau in Kingston, Ont.
She added that the military training operation Canada launched in Ukraine in 2015 contributed to the initial successes of much better-trained Ukrainian troops after the Russian invasion began in February 2022.
Mr. Trudeau announced that Ottawa will spend $3 million to support the removal and defusing of landmines and unexploded ordnance in Ukraine, in addition to the $32 million already invested in mine action in the country. The European Union (EU) is investing 43 million euros (approximately C$62 million) in the same effort.
The EU has now named Canada as a partner country in economic sanctions against Russia. The EU and Canada are working together to provide Canadian electrical transformers to support the Ukrainian power grid.
Mr. Trudeau reiterated that Canada will be there as long as it takes alongside Europe to support Ukraine.
Ottawa also signed a new hydrogen accord with the European Union that Prime Minister Trudeau said will mobilize investment, support businesses and deliver clean energy to both sides of the EU. x27;Atlantic.
As part of broader discussions around climate change and clean energy, Ms. von der Leyen said Canada and the EU had made progress on an agreement on critical minerals, signed in 2021. She described these minerals as the cornerstone of the clean economy.
Canada and the EU are also considering forming a joint green alliance that would focus on strengthening all-out energy and climate cooperation.
Mr. Trudeau and Ms. von der Leyen were at the military base in Kingston in the morning to meet with members of the Canadian Armed Forces deployed in Poland to help Ukrainian refugees.
