Canada’s Defense Minister Pushes for Enduring Support for Ukraine Until Victory Not 'As Long as It Takes'

The head of the Canadian Ministry of Defense, Bill Blair, considers the formulation of supporting Ukraine “as long as necessary” to be misleading and instead suggests to support Ukraine “until they [Ukrainians] win”.

Blair made this statement at an Atlantic Council event on the eve of May 13.

Defense Attaché of the Embassy of Ukraine in the USA General Boris Kremenetsky asked to clarify what victory means to the Canadian Defense Minister.

“When I got this job (Minister of Defense. — Ed.), to be honest, I changed our language, because ‘as long as it takes’ is not very encouraging or even pragmatic,” Blair explained his position.

“And so for me, victory is obviously defeating Putin and driving him out of Ukraine. And it is also creating the conditions that will allow for a lasting, secure peace for the Ukrainian people,” Blair added.

The formulation about supporting Ukraine “for as long as it takes” is actively used by Ukraine’s allies, including Germany and the United States.

At the same time, some officials, for example, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, emphasizes that it is necessary to talk about supporting Kyiv “until victory.”