WAIT, WHAT?!

Canada's Carney talks security guarantees with Zelenskyy in Kyiv, reiterates possibly providing Canadian troops

CBC
Sat 23 August 2025 

Prime Minister Mark Carney delivers a speech alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a ceremony on Independence Day in Sophia Square in Kyiv Ukraine, on Sunday. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press - image credit)

With the prospects for peace appearing as distant as ever — despite attempts by the Trump administration to broker a settlement in the war between Ukraine and Russia — Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday unveiled details of Canada's $2 billion in additional military aid.

Carney also publicly committed to reintroducing troops to the war-torn country in some capacity should there ever be a ceasefire.

It's Carney's first official visit to the war-torn country. He met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a time when the prospects for peace appear as distant as ever despite attempts by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to broker a Ukraine-Russia settlement.

In a speech in historic Sophia Square in Kyiv on Ukraine's Independence Day, Carney said more than $1 billion of the aid package will be used to finance the purchase of high-priority equipment from the United States, through NATO, as well as ammunition, and advance drone and armoured vehicle production from Canadian suppliers.

Another $220 million will be set aside to purchase drone, counter-drone, and electronic warfare capabilities, which will include investments in joint ventures between Ukrainian and Canadian industry. The two countries signed a Letter of Intent on Canada-Ukraine Joint Production of Defence Material.

During his visit Sunday to Kyiv, Prime Minister Mark Carney reiterated Canada's commitment to providing military and other aid to Ukraine. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

Carney reiterated his support for Canada's participation in the "coalition of the willing," and did not rule out providing boots on the ground in Ukraine, but it's not clear whether that would be in a training capacity or as part of a peacekeeping force.

Canada had troops in Ukraine to conduct military training up to the full Russian invasion in February 2022. It has continued the training program, known as Operation Unifier, in other countries, including the United Kingdom and Poland.

The additional $2 billion in defence aid was announced at the G7 leaders' summit in Kananaskis, Alta., in June.

Ukraine marks Independence Day celebrations

Carney's trip was made under a strict news blackout and amid tight security as the Ukrainian capital is a frequent target for Russian missile and drone strikes.

The prime minister's visit coincides with Ukraine's Independence Day celebrations. He was invited as a "special guest," according to Canadian officials who briefed journalists about the journey. Ukraine, which has always had its own distinct cultural identity, declared its independence on Aug. 24, 1991, heralding the collapse of the Soviet Union less than six months later.

Carney said the lessons of history are obvious.

"We know that Putin can never be trusted," he said in his speech. "We know that true peace and security will require security guarantees for Ukraine."
In search of security guarantees

As a hedge against Russia using a possible ceasefire — or peace settlement — as simply a pause between wars, Ukraine is asking allies for concrete guarantees and measures of support.

"Putin has broken his word repeatedly from Minsk to this morning," Carney said in reference to the two failed attempts at peace brokered in Minsk, Belarus, prior to Russia's full invasion.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently led a delegation to discuss what allies are prepared to offer in terms of postwar guarantees. He was accompanied by senior American generals and top national security advisers from the U.K., France, Germany, Italy and Finland, and met with Andriy Yermak, the top adviser to Zelenskyy, according to local media reports.

At the same time, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was also in Kyiv. At a recent news conference, he spoke with Zelenskyy and said the postwar guarantees would consist of two distinct elements — further strengthening the Ukrainian army and deterrence commitments from the U.S. and other allies, including Canada, to prevent future aggression by Russia.

Carney praised Trump's desire to push for peace, but cautioned the allies need to be prepared for the postwar world.

"When that peace comes, we cannot simply trust and verify — we must deter and fortify," the prime minister said.

Obstacles to peace

One of the major stumbling blocks toward peace is the Kremlin's continued, outright refusal to accept U.S.-backed security guarantees.

In an English-language social media post last week, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia's security council and the former president, wrote that Russia has categorically stated there should be no NATO involvement in any potential peacekeeping force inside of Ukraine.

Medvedev insisted there's no need for postwar security guarantees.

Other Russian lawmakers, also last week, suggested Ukraine should follow the Second World War example of Finland, which was invaded by the Soviet Union, and simply ceded territory and became a neutral country, according to the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, which tracks political and military developments in regular reports.

Russia is demanding Ukraine cede Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk provinces in the south and east of the country.

Carney said it's not up to Russia to dictate Ukraine's future security arrangements.

Canada in strategic agreement with EU

As well as support for continued armament of Ukraine, Canada has signed a strategic defence agreement with the European Union, which will facilitate joint purchases and production among allies, including Ukraine.

At the time of the signing, drones were mentioned as a possible area of co-operation between Canada and Ukraine, given that country's stunning and innovative use of the remotely controlled technology.

Last week, the United States and Ukraine announced a $50-billion drone co-operation initiative, one of the largest strategic commitments between the two nations.

Because Ukraine needs every piece of military equipment at the front, the country prohibits defence exports to other countries.

Ukraine's Arms Monitor, an online digest that tracks equipment related to the war, reported last week that Ukrainian officials, under pressure from the domestic industry, are considering slightly relaxing the restriction, but only for the most trusted allies — likely NATO members — who have the capacity to safeguard sensitive technology.

Canadian PM Carney, in Ukraine, says he can't rule out sending peacekeepers

Max Hunder
Sun 24 August 2025  

REUTERS

Canadian PM Carney, in Ukraine, says he can't rule out sending peacekeepers

KYIV (Reuters) -Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Sunday he backed Ukraine's calls for robust security guarantees as part of any peace deal, saying Canada would not rule out sending troops under such a framework.

Three and a half years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump is leading peace efforts and Ukraine is working with its European allies to draft potential frameworks for post-war security guarantees for Kyiv, which Trump has also expressed openness towards.

Carney, making his first visit to Ukraine since taking office in March, joined Zelenskiy for a ceremony in central Kyiv to mark Ukrainian Independence Day, which was also attended by Trump's special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg.

"We are all working to ensure that the end of this war would mean the guarantee of peace for Ukraine, so that neither war nor the threat of war are left for our children to inherit," Zelenskiy told a crowd of dignitaries in Kyiv's Sophia Square, against the backdrop of an 11th century cathedral.

Zelenskiy has said he wants future security guarantees as part of a potential peace deal to be as close as possible to NATO's Article 5, which considers an attack on one member state as an attack against all.

Carney backed Ukraine's calls for potential international participation.

"In Canada's judgment, it is not realistic that the only security guarantee could be the strength of the Ukrainian Armed Forces ... that needs to be buttressed and reinforced," Carney told a joint press conference.

The two leaders also signed an agreement on drone co-production, and Carney said Ukraine would receive more than C$1 billion ($723 million) in military aid from a previously announced package next month.

'WE NEED PEACE'

Zelenskiy presented Kellogg with a state honour during Sunday's ceremony, telling him "we need peace" as he gave him a medal in a leather case.

Later in the day, Kellogg met Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, who said they had discussed the Ukraine-U.S. minerals agreement as well as the security guarantees issue.

During the press conference with Carney, Zelenskiy was asked about a story in the Wall Street Journal which said the Pentagon had for months been quietly blocking Ukraine's use of the U.S.-supplied ATACMS missile to hit targets in Russia.

A source familiar with the matter said while there was never a formal suspension in long-range attacks, the Pentagon had created a review process that has so far not authorized a strike with the ATACMS deep inside Russia.

In response, Zelenskiy said Kyiv has of late been using its own domestically produced long-range weapons to hit targets inside Russia, which are not cleared with Washington.

"Lately we have not been discussing this issue with the United States," he said.

Ukraine has said it conducted overnight strikes on an oil refinery in Russia's Samara region, as well as a gas fractionation facility at Ust-Luga, a Russian port which is a key energy export node.

($1 = 1.3826 Canadian dollars)

Carney Pushes Energy, Defense Deals in Europe in Pivot From US

Laura Dhillon Kane
Sat 23 August 2025

BLOOMBERG

Mark Carney during a news conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on Aug. 22.

(Bloomberg) -- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is visiting Poland, Germany and Latvia to strengthen defense and industrial partnerships, with a particular focus on growing his country’s nuclear and critical minerals sectors.

Carney arrived in Poland on Saturday and intends to meet with Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Monday, government officials said at a background briefing with reporters. He’ll meet with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Tuesday, and Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa in Riga on Wednesday.

The Canadian leader has been pushing hard to diversify the country’s trading relationships and reduce its security reliance on the US, often calling Canada “the most European of non-European countries.”

The trip comes a day after Carney announced he would remove many retaliatory tariffs against US products in an olive branch to President Donald Trump, after Canada blew past an Aug. 1 deadline without reaching a trade deal.

In Warsaw, Carney and Tusk plan to finalize a bilateral strategic partnership on energy and security, and the Canadian prime minister will also meet with business leaders to discuss nuclear and other clean power sectors. In Berlin, he and Merz will announce an agreement to cooperate on critical minerals and he’ll meet with investors in the industry.

Carney also intends to emphasize Canada’s commitment to the long-term security of Ukraine and Europe, with his final stop in Riga focused on the Canadian Armed Forces’ largest overseas mission, known as Operation Reassurance. The prime minister will visit a military base and meet with deployed members.

Carney's trip to Europe aims to encourage trade, defence and energy co-operation

CBC
Sat 23 August 2025 


Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks to reporters at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa on Friday. He'll be travelling to Germany, Poland and Latvia next week. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press - image credit)

Economic and security ties are front and centre as Prime Minister Mark Carney meets allies over the next few days in eastern and central Europe.

The prime minister will be travelling not only to Germany but also Poland and Latvia, where he'll meet with key business and political leaders, as well as Canadian troops deployed throughout the region.

The German portion of the trip was acknowledged on Friday by Carney as he answered questions about the removal of some reciprocal tariffs on the United States.

"Canada has a good partnership with Germany. It's been built up over the years, but it can be much, much better, and I'm confident that with this chancellor, and the focus of our government, that it will," he said.

Carney said he will meet with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Tuesday. Following his remarks, a senior government official expanded on the itinerary, saying there will be meetings with key German business leaders.

The German government in a statement announced the planned meeting ahead of Carney's news conference on Friday.

In Poland, Canada is expected to finalize a bilateral strategic partnership focused on energy and security. Carney will also meet with Canadian troops deployed in the country.

In Latvia, Carney will get a first-hand look at the Canadian-led NATO brigade and is scheduled to meet with the Baltic nation's prime minister, Evika Siliņa.

"This visit to Europe is an opportunity to strengthen relations with European allies, and to progress co-operation in key areas, including trade, energy, critical minerals and defence," said the senior official who was authorized to speak on background only.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson and Defence Minister David McGuinty will accompany the prime minister on different legs of the trip

Canada can play 'important role' in Ukraine peace deal

The meetings with allies come as uncertainty hangs over the bid by U.S. President Donald Trump to broker a peace settlement between Russia and Ukraine.

Russia has stepped up its bombing campaign — launching one of its heaviest missile and drone assaults since it invaded Ukraine in February 2022 — following last week's summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with NBC News on Friday that there is currently no plan for Putin to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Putin would meet Zelenskyy "when the agenda is ready for a summit," he said, noting that "this agenda is not ready at all."

Lavrov also accused Zelenskyy of failing to accept Russia's demanded preconditions for negotiation, namely discussion about "territorial issues."

At the same time, Ukraine is looking for concrete security guarantees from allies, including the U.S., before agreeing to a potential peace deal. Carney said he spoke with Trump about the subject.

U.S. President Donald Trump, left, greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as he arrives at the White House, in Washington, D.C., on Monday. (Alex Brandon/The Associated Press)

As a member of the "coalition of the willing" led by France and Britain, Carney said Canada will have a role to play in security guarantees. But precisely what that will look like is uncertain.

"Canada has the potential to have an important role," the prime minister said. "So, we're very engaged in these sets of issues."

Appearing last week on CBC Radio's The House, Canada's top military commander, Gen. Jennie Carignan, said she's had a number of discussions with other allied defence chiefs and that the shape of each country's involvement is still being determined.

Much will depend on what the ceasefire or the potential peace deal will look like: "There's a lot of unknown at the moment, but one thing is for sure is that they will need a requirement for training and development for Ukrainian forces to assume their own security," Carignan, chief of the defence staff, said.

In Kyiv, meanwhile, the secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization met with top Ukrainian officials.

"We are now working together — Ukraine, the Europeans, the United States — to make sure that these security guarantees are of such a level that Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin sitting in Moscow will never try to attack Ukraine again," Mark Rutte said.