Canada Pledges $1.6 Billion in Military Aid to Ukraine

Canada has bolstered its support for Ukraine with a new commitment of $1.6 billion Canadian dollars (approximately $1.16 billion USD) in military aid over the next five years. This announcement comes as part of the Canadian government’s 2024 budget unveiled yesterday.

The additional funding builds upon Canada’s existing support for Ukraine, which already totals over $10 billion. This previous assistance included around $2.8 billion dedicated to military aid and a separate $2 billion contribution to help Ukraine manage its budget deficit.

“This multi-year commitment will provide predictability to Ukraine as well as to Canada’s defense industry,” the Canadian government stated. The new funds will be used to supply both lethal and non-lethal military equipment to Ukraine.

This announcement reinforces Canada’s position as one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters since the outset of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The latest pledge comes on top of previous Canadian contributions. In March, Canada provided a separate $2 billion to help Ukraine address its budget shortfall, with a focus on social assistance programs. Additionally, Canada pledged nearly $30 million to support a Czech initiative supplying artillery shells to Ukraine, a critical resource in the face of ammunition shortages.

Meanwhile, a separate $60 billion aid package for Ukraine proposed by the U.S. remains stalled in the U.S. Congress.