Canada sending defensive equipment to Ukraine, extends military training mission

OTTAWA — Canada will present “non-lethal” defensive navy gear, intelligence and cyber-defensive assist to Ukraine and broaden and lengthen its navy coaching mission in Ukraine for 3 extra years, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mentioned Wednesday, as a part of a global effort to avert a battle breaking out in jap Europe.

“Let there be no mistake that Canada, alongside all of our democratic allies, stands robust for Ukraine, and all the things we do is motivated by our pursuit of de-escalation and a diplomatic answer,” Trudeau mentioned after wrapping up a three-day cupboard retreat, the place the federal government calibrated its response to the risk posed by Russia’s actions on Ukraine’s borders.

The federal government’s plan drew quick criticism from the Conservative opposition, as NATO allies tried to discourage Russia’s President Vladimir Putin by warning of the steep value to Russia of any additional incursion into Ukraine.

Trudeau’s announcement got here hours after the U.S. rejected Moscow’s key calls for that NATO bar Ukraine from future membership, and draw down weapons and navy presence in close by international locations.

Washington has warned Americans to go away Ukraine whereas they nonetheless have industrial journey choices. Ottawa ordered members of the family of Canadian embassy personnel to go away on Tuesday and has warned towards non-essential journey to Ukraine.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned Wednesday that NATO will maintain its “open-door” coverage towards Ukraine’s bid to affix NATO, and declared there's “no daylight” amongst NATO allies over how to answer Russia’s navy buildup.

“We clarify that there are core ideas that we're dedicated to uphold and defend, together with Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the correct of states to decide on their very own safety preparations and alliances,” Blinken mentioned.

Trudeau mentioned his cupboard permitted the deployment of 60 navy personnel on high of the 200 troopers now concerned in Canada’s coaching mission in Ukraine, with the potential for growing the whole to 400.

Trudeau and his ministers defended the choice as a “vital” transfer and the “greatest approach” Canada might make a distinction. “This can be a $340-million dedication,” mentioned the prime minister, flanked by his deputy prime minister and ministers of defence and international affairs.

The “non-lethal” navy help will embody gear like physique armour and optical scopes to assist in surveillance. Canada may even present intelligence sharing and assist to repel cyber assaults “in order that Ukraine can defend its sovereignty, safety and territorial integrity,” Trudeau mentioned.

Moreover, Ottawa will ship one other $50 million for growth and humanitarian support on high of a $120-million mortgage to Ukraine introduced final week — cash for financial stabilization that Overseas Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly mentioned was Ukraine’s major request when she met President Volodymyr Zelenskiy there final week.

Defence Minister Anita Anand will journey to Ukraine within the coming days on a mission that Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland portrayed as very important to Canada’s pursuits in sustaining a global rules-based order. “The world’s dictators are watching,” mentioned Freeland.

The federal government’s response drew hearth from three Conservative critics, who mentioned Trudeau “failed” to “do the correct factor and assist Ukraine towards Russia’s aggression by offering Ukraine with deadly defensive weapons” as different international locations have finished.

“This lack of motion by Prime Minister Trudeau calls into query the Liberal authorities’s assist for Ukraine of their struggle towards Russia’s aggression,” MPs Michael Chong, Kerry-Lynne Findlay, and James Bezan mentioned in a written assertion.

“The time for half measures has lengthy handed. Ukraine wants Canada’s assist and right this moment Mr. Trudeau allow them to down.”

However Carleton College worldwide affairs professor Stephen Saideman, director of the Canadian Defence and Safety Community, mentioned the federal government’s response “is sensible” as a result of “it’s what we are able to do,” notably the supply of cyber-defence capabilities.

“That might make greater than a marginal distinction, given the Russian approach of doing issues,” Saideman mentioned. “It’s not likely that essential that we give them deadly help when different international locations are sending far more.”

The U.S. has delivered tons of navy support to Kyiv this week that Blinken mentioned is “important to Ukraine’s front-line defenders.”

Blinken mentioned the U.S. has invited Putin to maintain speaking after Russia deployed greater than 100,000 troops on the Ukrainian border.

The U.S. and NATO are keen to debate “transparency” measures round navy workout routines and exercise, and new arms management agreements that will improve “collective safety,” he mentioned.

“All advised, it units out a critical diplomatic path ahead, ought to Russia select it,” Blinken mentioned. “The ball is of their courtroom.”

U.S. President Joe Biden made clear a day earlier that whereas 8,500 American troops stand prepared to bolster NATO’s presence in member international locations, “there's not going to be any American forces transferring into Ukraine.”

Nevertheless, Biden warned of “monumental penalties” if Putin “have been to go in and invade, as he might, your entire nation — or quite a bit lower than that, as effectively — for Russia, not solely by way of financial penalties and political penalties, however there’ll be monumental penalties worldwide. This is able to be the biggest — if he have been to maneuver in with all these forces, it’d be the biggest invasion since World Battle Two. It will change the world.”

If Russia invades, the U.S. has repeatedly warned it faces “large” and “extreme” sanctions and export controls on U.S.-origin merchandise that will be essential to the way forward for the Russian financial system in sectors like aerospace and defence, lasers and sensors, maritime, synthetic intelligence, robotics, and quantum computing, administration officers mentioned.

The U.S. has additionally recognized methods to extend world shipments of pure fuel to Europe if Russia tries to choke off oil and fuel exports to NATO international locations.

Roughly 200 Canadian Armed Forces troops are presently deployed on a coaching mission in Ukraine. Trudeau mentioned they might not participate in any fight operations if hostilities get away.

“This isn't a fight mission. This can be a coaching mission. The Canadian navy might be there to advise and help,” he mentioned.

Ukraine had requested for extra Canadian troopers to broaden the Kyiv-based operation past 13 areas the place they presently work. Trudeau mentioned they'll stay within the western a part of Ukraine “the place the dangers are lowest and the place they'll focus most immediately on coaching Ukrainian troops to have the ability to proceed to defend the integrity of their territory.” He mentioned the protection of these Canadian troopers is “paramount.”