Carney and Zelenskyy sign 100-year Canada-Ukraine defence pact in Calgary

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a 100-year Canada-Ukraine partnership declaration Thursday in southeast Calgary, cementing defence production at the core of bilateral ties.

The agreements cover defence and security co-operation, energy and critical minerals, and trade and investment. Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson and Denys Shmyhal, Ukraine's first deputy prime minister and energy minister, also signed a joint statement on bilateral energy co-operation aimed at supporting Ukraine's energy security.

Canada's military currently has roughly 2,000 drones in its inventory and plans to produce millions of drones within the next two years, with 30 per cent destined for Ukraine. The countries plan to partner Canadian and Ukrainian companies to build drones, uncrewed systems, counter-drone technologies, munitions and artificial intelligence technology.

"In just four years, Ukraine has built a world-leading drone industry. Your drones, costing only a few hundred dollars, have sunk warships worth hundreds of millions," Carney said following the signing. "Ukraine is constantly innovating. Canada can learn from you."

Canada is also putting $350 million toward an air defence package for Ukraine and will provide over $430 million in loan guarantees for gas purchases to help Ukrainians through the winter. The country will contribute to Ukraine's Energy Security Fund to repair energy infrastructure, increase storage capacity and power hospitals.

Following the signing ceremony, Carney and Zelenskyy viewed drone demonstrations and spoke with representatives from multiple Canadian drone manufacturers, including Paul Ziade, CEO and co-founder of Calgary-based North Vector Dynamics. The company, which has roughly 20 employees, is developing low-cost interceptor technology and qualifies under the federal drone initiative. "They need more interceptors, and especially interceptors that can take on some of the faster and more modern threats that Russia is sending into Ukraine," Ziade said.