Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Prime Minister Mark Carney took part in a virtual session of the Coalition of the Willing on Sunday, joining Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and allied leaders to discuss ongoing support for Ukraine’s defense and long-term security.
During the meeting, Carney and other coalition members expressed appreciation for U.S. President Donald Trump’s role in creating momentum for negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s invasion. They also welcomed Washington’s willingness to consider security guarantees as part of a wider framework to secure Ukraine’s sovereignty and stability in Europe.
Carney underscored that the upcoming White House meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy, European heads of government, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte should adhere to two central principles: no decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine, and no decisions about Europe without Europe. He stressed that peace can only be durable if it strengthens the security of both Ukraine and the Euro-Atlantic community.
“Russia has shown repeatedly that President Putin cannot be trusted,” Carney said, emphasizing that diplomatic engagement must be matched with military assistance and sustained economic pressure on Moscow. He noted that any eventual peace arrangement must be underpinned by a strong Ukrainian military and credible international security guarantees.
As part of Canada’s continued support, Carney announced a new package of assistance: $2 billion in military aid, the disbursement of a $2.3 billion loan under the G7 Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration Loans mechanism, and an additional round of sanctions against Russia and its enablers.
Canada and Ukraine also renewed their joint call for Russia to immediately return Ukrainian children who have been forcibly taken from occupied territories, a key priority of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, which the two nations co-chair.
Carney concluded by reaffirming that Canada will continue to work in close coordination with Ukraine and its allies to ensure sustained pressure on Russia and long-term peace in the region.
