Canada has announced a significant new military aid package for Ukraine, encompassing a wide range of equipment and training support. The announcement was made at the 24th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Ramstein Air Base, Germany, hosted by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III.
The package includes tens of thousands of rocket motors and over 1,300 warheads, as well as the decommissioned chassis of nearly 100 armored vehicles. Canada will also donate 960 C6 machine guns and 10,500 9mm pistols from its arsenal. Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair stated that the rocket motors and warheads will be sent to Ukraine through Poland in the coming months.
Furthermore, Canada will provide the decommissioned chassis from 29 M113s and 64 Coyote LAVs, which were previously used by the Canadian Army. These vehicles will be dismantled by Ukrainians for spare parts, according to CBC News.
Beyond equipment, Canada also announced a $389 million investment in F-16 pilot training for Ukrainian personnel over the next five years. This commitment was originally announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the NATO summit in Washington last July. The training is aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s air capabilities.
This announcement comes as allied defense ministers gather in Ramstein to discuss military support for Ukraine. The meeting is being hosted by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who announced a new $250 million military aid package for Ukraine.
While several countries have donated M113 armored personnel carriers to Kyiv, maintenance remains a significant concern.
During the meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed concerns about the pace of weapons deliveries from Western partners. He emphasized the importance of long-range capabilities, particularly in light of recent operations in Crimea. He called for the removal of restrictions on the use of Western long-range weapons against targets inside Russia, including occupied territories like Crimea. Zelenskyy believes that this would encourage Russia to seek peace.
The Canadian aid package is the latest in a series of donations pledged by the federal government. The government has also agreed to donate surplus CRV-7 air-to-surface rockets, with tens of thousands of these rockets, dating from the 1980s, previously in storage. The Department of National Defence has stated that only the motors were in sufficient condition for donation, with over 2,100 already shipped.
