Canada announced $2.5 billion in economic assistance for Ukraine as Prime Minister Mark Carney met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid renewed Russian attacks and ahead of Kyiv’s talks with the United States.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Saturday announced an additional $2.5 billion in economic assistance for Ukraine, positioning the move as part of wider international efforts to support the war-torn country. Speaking alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Carney said the funding would help unlock further international financing at a critical moment in the conflict.
According to a news release from the Prime Minister’s Office, around $1.6 billion of the assistance will be delivered as loan guarantees to the World Bank’s International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The remaining funds will support International Monetary Fund lending to Ukraine, while Canada will also participate in an “extended and expanded debt service suspension” for Kyiv.
Zelenskyy’s visit to Canada followed a phone call with Carney on Friday, with the Prime Minister’s Office confirming that the two leaders met at around 1 pm AT on Saturday. In a statement, Zelenskyy said he briefed Carney on Ukraine’s diplomatic engagement with the United States aimed at ending the war that began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
Ukrainian President to visit US
The Ukrainian President is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump on Sunday, likely at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, where he plans to present a 20-point peace proposal. Zelenskyy said the discussions would centre on security guarantees for Ukraine and a possible economic agreement, while noting that it remained unclear whether any deal would be finalised.
The visit came hours after Russia launched drones and missiles at Kyiv in its latest attack on the capital. Later on Saturday, Moscow also claimed fresh gains on the battlefield, saying its forces had captured two towns at separate locations along the frontlines. Zelenskyy said the renewed assault demonstrated that Moscow had no intention of ending the war, accusing the Kremlin of pressing ahead with its invasion despite Kyiv’s efforts to pursue peace.
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