Canada offers air defense support for Ukraine as Zelenskyy visits

On 10 September, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy landed in Calgary, Alberta, and met Prime Minister Mark Carney to secure a new air‑defence package for Ukraine. In a ceremony that highlighted the two countries’ shared history of migration and military solidarity, Canada pledged C$350 million for interceptors, C$450 million in loan guarantees for Ukraine’s energy system and a plan to send a third of all Canadian‑produced drones to Kyiv. The agreement, signed in the presence of a large Ukrainian‑Canadian community, is part of a broader “hundred‑year partnership” that will formalise cooperation on defence, critical minerals, energy and reconstruction.

Canada’s offer comes as Russian forces intensify ballistic‑missile and jet‑powered drone attacks. Ukrainian officials have reported that the power grid is already suffering rolling blackouts, and the Russian Defence Ministry says it has shot down 448 Ukrainian drones overnight. The urgency of the package was echoed by Zelenskyy, who said the interceptors were “very important” and “crucial” for protecting Ukraine’s skies.

"This is a very important package of air defence,"

Media additions

Zelenskyy In Canada Seeking Support Amid Deadly Russian Attacks

Zelenskyy, via Guardian

Prime Minister Carney framed the package as a continuation of Canada’s long‑standing support for Ukraine. He said Ottawa had already provided about C$26 billion in assistance since the invasion began and pledged further aid.

"We've provided support for the energy systems and beyond. We'll provide more support,"

Carney, via Daily Sabah

The loan guarantees will help Kyiv purchase natural gas ahead of winter, a season when the country is vulnerable to supply disruptions. Carney added that the energy support was aimed at preventing hospitals from running out of power during cold spells.

The drone agreement is a milestone in Canada’s expanding aerospace industry. Carney announced that Canada plans to build the capacity to produce millions of drones within two years, with one‑third earmarked for Ukraine. The move follows an earlier pledge that 30 % of all new Canadian drone production would go to Kyiv. “We are moving aggressively to increase our drone stocks,” Carney told reporters, pointing to the new production plan that will see Canadian manufacturers deliver both surveillance and armed drones to the front lines.

Both leaders highlighted the depth of the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada. Alberta alone hosts an estimated 350 000 Canadians of Ukrainian descent, and Carney noted that “Ukrainians helped build Canada and Canadians will help rebuild Ukraine.” The historic connection dates back to 1893, when waves of Ukrainian immigrants settled in the Canadian prairies. In a gesture of solidarity, Carney said “Ukrainians helped build this province, this country. Canada will help rebuild Ukraine when peace comes.”

In addition to the defence package, Carney and Zelenskyy signed a “Hundred‑Year Partnership” that will cover defence, trade, energy, critical minerals and technology. The agreement, which will be negotiated over the coming months, aims to codify the two countries’ cooperation across a range of priority sectors.

While the air‑defence deal is the headline, the visit also focused on Ukraine’s energy resilience. Zelenskyy stressed that Russia’s attacks on gas plants and power infrastructure are designed to demoralise civilians. He said Ukraine needed “strong and lasting peace” but must enter negotiations from a position of strength. “We need to be strong, not to be weak,” he told a press conference, adding that Ukraine was preparing for the winter months.

Russia’s campaign has continued unabated. According to Ukrainian officials, a Russian drone attack on Pavlohrad killed at least four people and injured more than 60. A strike on Mykolaiv’s port killed four. In Sumy, a jet‑powered drone hit a shopping centre, killing three, including children. The Russian Defence Ministry said it had launched 149 drones overnight, destroying 448 Ukrainian drones.

Ukraine’s counter‑strikes have also expanded in scope. Zelenskyy reported that Ukrainian forces had struck eight Russian infrastructure targets, including a refinery in the Yamalo‑Nenets region and a port in Dagestan. He said other unnamed sites critical to Russia’s war industry had also been hit. The Ukrainian Special Operations Forces claimed to have successfully struck two gas plants in the Arctic, more than 3 000 km from the Ukrainian border.

Amid the military back‑and‑forth, Zelenskyy’s Canadian visit was part of a broader diplomatic tour. After arriving in Calgary on the night of 9 September, he travelled to Banff, Toronto and North Bay, where he addressed Canadian cabinet members and met with philanthropists supporting Ukraine. He also scheduled a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in New York City, likely on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, to discuss a potential trilateral meeting to end the war.

For Canada, the package is a tangible expression of its commitment to Ukraine’s defence and reconstruction. Carney said the country will continue backing Ukraine after the fighting ends, adding that future peace must be backed by deterrence rather than trust in Moscow. “Ukrainians helped build this province, this country. Canada will help rebuild Ukraine when peace comes,” he repeated, underscoring the long‑term nature of the partnership.

Below is a summary of the financial commitments and production plans announced during the visit.

Item	Amount (CAD)
Air‑defence interceptors via Jumpstart	350 million
Loan guarantees for energy supply	450 million
Existing total support to Ukraine (since 2022)	26 billion
Projected drone production over next 2 years	Millions (30 % earmarked for Ukraine)

What to watch next

• Carney and Zelenskyy will continue negotiations on the “hundred‑year partnership” over the coming months.
• Zelenskyy is expected to meet Trump in late September; any outcome could influence U.S. Policy toward Ukraine.
• Canada’s drone production plan will be monitored for its impact on Ukraine’s air‑defence capabilities.

As Russia’s air campaign persists and Ukraine braces for a harsh winter, the Canadian package represents a significant boost to Kyiv’s defensive posture and a deepening of a partnership that traces back to the early days of Canadian statehood. The two leaders’ visit shows how much sustained international support for a country under siege, and it sets the stage for further collaboration that may shape the future of Ukraine’s security and reconstruction. The next weeks will see the formalisation of the agreements signed in Calgary and the unfolding of the promised drone and energy assistance, while diplomatic channels keep an eye on potential breakthroughs in peace talks that could finally end the conflict.