Zelenskyy Visits Canada as Ottawa Pledges Drones, Air Defense and Energy Aid

A Landmark Drone Partnership

During Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's three-day visit to Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled an ambitious plan to produce millions of drones over the next two years, with a third earmarked for Ukraine. Canada's military currently fields roughly 2,000 drones, so the new contracts represent a tenfold expansion of its fleet. Zelenskyy described the arrangement as a two-way street: Ukraine secures financing for its defense industry, while Canada gains access to technology that has proven itself on contemporary battlefields.

Bolstering Air Defense and Energy Resilience

Carney also announced a C$350 million ($254 million) package of critical air-defense interceptors for Ukraine, to be delivered through a U.S. mechanism. Zelenskyy welcomed the contribution, pointing out that such systems are in short supply globally. In addition, Canada will offer more than C$430 million ($312 million) in loan guarantees to help Ukraine buy natural gas ahead of winter and will contribute to the country's Energy Security Fund.

Responding to Russia's Escalating Air Campaign

The new support arrives as Ukraine confronts a worsening Russian air offensive involving ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones designed to overwhelm its defenses. Moscow has been striking Ukraine's power grid in the run-up to winter, a tactic officials see as an attempt to break civilian morale. These attacks have sharpened Ukraine's need for both defensive weaponry and energy infrastructure resilience.

A Commitment Beyond the War

Carney emphasized that Canada's support will continue after the fighting stops, saying, "Ukrainians helped build Canada, and Canadians will help rebuild Ukraine." He added that once peace is achieved, Canada's policy will be to "deter and fortify" rather than simply place trust in Russia.