Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland stated that Ottawa's aid to Kyiv is a significant contribution to bolstering Ukraine's defense capabilities amid Russian military aggression. This comes against the backdrop of a delay in the approval of a support package for Ukraine in the US Congress, as reported by CBS News.
According to the Canadian official, the United States currently has been "unable to step up" assistance for the Ukrainian side, which is engaged in combat conditions.
Freeland, in an interview with CBC The House, did not specify whether Canada plans to increase its federal budget on April 16 to reach the NATO target of 2% of GDP for member countries' military spending.
However, she noted that Canada's commitments to Ukraine, per capita, which she referred to as "NATO's most pressing challenge," were "very significant."
"In March, Canada sent $2 billion in urgent budget financing support to Ukraine at a time when the U.S. (...) has been unable to step up and provide support for Ukraine. We were there to fill the gap," Freeland said.
She also added that Canadians "can stand up tall and proud, knowing that our country is absolutely doing our part to resist Russia [and] support Ukraine, which is NATO's biggest fight."
Canada's assistance to Ukraine
It was previously reported that Canada, as part of new military aid, will provide Ukraine with ammunition and a batch of night vision devices.
It was also announced on March 15 that Canada and the UN had provided Ukraine with demining equipment.
In February, the Canadian Ministry of Defense stated that the country would provide Ukraine with 800 multi-purpose drones for air defense.
Recall also that in June of last year, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Kyiv on an official visit. Following the visit, he announced that the government would provide Ukraine with a new package of military aid worth 500 million Canadian dollars (over 370 million US dollars). Ottawa will also participate in the aviation coalition.
Later, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed with Trudeau the strengthening of air defense.