Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced new weapons and equipment for Ukraine after meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Ukraine on May 8.
Trudeau also announced that Canada is imposing new sanctions on Russian individuals and entities in connection with Moscow's invasion.
"Today, I'm announcing more military assistance, drone cameras, satellite imagery, small arms, ammunition, and other support, including funding for demining operations," Trudeau said.
"And we're bringing forward new sanctions on 40 Russian individuals and five entities, oligarchs, and close associates of the regime in the defense sector, all of them complicit in Putin's war," in a reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Speaking at a news conference in Kyiv, Trudeau also said Canada will reopen its embassy, provide $25 million to the UN's World Food Program, and remove tariffs on all Ukrainian imports to Canada for next year.
The Ukrainian and Canadian ministers in charge of trade held a virtual meeting on May 8 to coincide with Trudeau's visit to Ukraine. They pledged to return to work on expanding a free-trade agreement and aim to finalize it within weeks.
Economy Minister Yulia Sviridenko expressed hope for Canada’s support in overcoming a food crisis sparked by the blockade of Ukrainian seaports. Canada's decision to abolish duties on Ukrainian goods will be an important move toward boosting the Ukrainian economy, she said.
“This will help exporters increase the volume of produce leaving the country and thereby strengthen the Ukrainian economy and the defense of our state,” an Economy Ministry statement quoted her as saying.
Earlier on May 8, the mayor of Irpin, a town outside of Kyiv that had been temporary held by Russian troops, announced on Telegram that Trudeau had made a surprise visit.
Oleksandr Markushyn quoted Trudeau as saying that he visited “to see with his own eyes all the horror which Russian occupiers have caused to our town."
