Canada’s defence chief makes first trip to Ukraine since Russian invasion – National | 24CA News
Canada’s defence chief has concluded his first journey to Ukraine for the reason that Russian invasion began greater than a 12 months in the past.
In an announcement Saturday, the Department of National Defence stated on his go to to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, General Wayne Eyre mentioned how Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces can assist Ukraine’s future wants.
The DND confirmed to Global News that this was Eyre’s first go to to the nation for the reason that conflict began on Feb. 24, 2022.
His final journey to Ukraine was in Dec. 2021.
“The situation in Ukraine and its wider impact reinforces the needed urgency to ensure Canadian Armed Forces’ continued readiness in support of Ukraine and NATO and in an increasingly dangerous world,” the DND assertion learn.
Eyre met with Ukrainian navy officers and “discussed the current state of the war in Ukraine, and further bilateral defence cooperation between Ukraine and Canada,” DND stated.
He additionally met Ukrainian troopers and the Canadian Ambassador to Ukraine Larisa Galadza.
Canada has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine since Russia’s unlawful invasion started.
The federal authorities says it has dedicated over $5 billion in multifaceted assist to Ukraine, together with over $2.6 billion in help, greater than $1.2 billion in navy support, $320 million in humanitarian support, $96 million in improvement help and greater than $68 million in safety and stabilization programming.
On the primary anniversary of the conflict, Canada introduced it will likely be sending an extra 4 Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine, bringing the overall variety of tanks being despatched by the federal government to the embattled nation to eight.
Eyre’s go to comes as Russia is on the cusp of its first main victory in half a 12 months after the bloodiest combating of the conflict.
Russian forces mounted stress Saturday on Ukrainians hunkered down within the besieged metropolis of Bakhmut.
Residents tried to flee with assist from Ukrainian troops, who Western analysts say could also be getting ready to withdraw from the important thing japanese stronghold.
Bakhmut has for months been a major goal of Moscow’s grinding japanese offensive, with Russian troops, together with forces from the personal Wagner Group, inching ever nearer.
On the primary anniversary of the conflict, Canada introduced it will likely be sending an extra 4 Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine, bringing the overall variety of tanks being despatched by the federal government to the embattled nation to eight.
— With information from Global News’ Aaron D’Andrea and The Associated Press
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
