Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said his country urgently needed weapons and hoped that the air defense systems Canada promised to install more than a year ago were already in place in Ukraine.
Canada announced plans to donate a $406 million surface-to-air missile defense system in January 2023, but a delivery date has not yet been set.
“Of course, we would like this system to already be in Ukraine, because we are in a situation where every single air defense system is important,” Kuleba said in response to a question from CBC News on Sunday at the closing ceremony of the Ukrainian Peace Summit in Switzerland.
“This is a matter of life and death, and it’s a matter of the survival of our energy infrastructure.”
Ukraine is in a difficult position on the battlefield, with Russian victories leading to fierce fighting northeast of Kharkiv, and Russian drone and missile attacks causing extensive damage to the country’s power grid.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the air defence system, known as NASAMS, is currently being built by the United States and the timing of its delivery is outside of Canada’s control.
“We’re working with the United States to accelerate production, get those off the assembly line and into Ukraine as quickly as possible,” Trudeau said in response to a question from CBC News during the summit.
“We know the U.S. would like to do that as well, but it’s not something Canada has full control over.”
Kleba said he understands Canada is “aggressively” pushing for faster deliveries and wanted to make a simple point.
“Ukraine’s path to peace and recovery begins with air defense and weapons that make our soldiers stronger on the battlefield,” he said.
Kuleba and Trudeau were attending two days of talks in the Swiss Alpine resort at the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to pave the way for an end to Ukraine’s war, which erupted after Russia invaded its neighbor in February 2022.
Trudeau remains silent on sending trainees to Ukraine
Trudeau declined to say when speaking to reporters whether Canada would send military trainers to Ukraine, although NATO ally France has pledged to do so.
“Canada has trained more than 35,000 members of the Ukrainian military and will continue to do so,” Trudeau said. “Through our work in a variety of locations, we know how important it is for Ukraine to continue to counter the enormous numbers and resources Russia is committing to it.”
Canadian Chief of Defence Staff Wayne Eyre, in an interview with CBC’s chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton, said he was briefed on the training mission by the French chief of staff after the Normandy landings anniversary ceremony earlier this month.
Eyre said he didn’t want to speculate on whether Canada would agree to support the French plan with Canadian troops, but noted the last time Canada sent troops to Ukraine was when it was battling Russian-backed forces in the east.
“At some point it would be good to go in,” he told CBC. Rosemary Barton Live.
Canada and other allies have been running combat schools since Russia invaded Ukraine more than two years ago, and more than 300 Canadian military personnel are currently deployed on training missions in Poland, Latvia and Britain.
$52 million aid package for Ukraine
Canada has announced more than $52 million in aid to repair Ukraine’s damaged energy infrastructure, clear explosives and mines, and support at-risk children and youth.
The announcement also includes funding to support the reintegration of displaced Ukrainian children “through improved child protection services and family-based care options,” according to a government press release.
![From left, Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Swiss President Viola Amherd, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attend the closing press conference of the Ukraine Peace Summit in Oburgen, Switzerland, Sunday, June 16, 2024.](https://i.cbc.ca/1.7236683.1718563468!/cpImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_780/russia-ukraine-war.jpg)
![From left, Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Swiss President Viola Amherd, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attend the closing press conference of the Ukraine Peace Summit in Oburgen, Switzerland, Sunday, June 16, 2024.](https://i.cbc.ca/1.7236683.1718563468!/cpImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_780/russia-ukraine-war.jpg)
Trudeau said Russia’s actions akin to elements of genocide and that it must be held accountable for the displacement of thousands of children.
“I think everyone would agree that separating children from their families and trying to erase their language and culture is an element of genocide,” he told reporters. “This is pure colonialism. Russia is responsible for this.”
At the summit’s closing press conference, Trudeau announced that Canada would host meetings with foreign ministers in the coming months “to advance work on the human cost of this war.”
Canada has agreed to contribute $5 billion of a $50 billion U.S. loan to help Ukraine fight Russia. The U.S.-led plan involves tapping interest earned on about 200 billion euros ($215 billion) in frozen Russian assets.