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Ukraine, Canada Defense Ministers Discussed Ukraine's Military Needs and Canada's Promised Aid Package

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Canadian Minister of National Defense Anita Anand arrived in Ukraine for a two-day visit / Photo credit: MOD of Ukraine
Canadian Minister of National Defense Anita Anand arrived in Ukraine for a two-day visit / Photo credit: MOD of Ukraine

Defense Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov and Minister of National Defense of Canada Anita Anand have discussed the security situation on the Ukrainian borders and in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, Ukraine's military needs and cyber security on Monday, January 31

The meeting of the ministers took place as part of an officialvisit of Anita Anand to Ukraine, Ukrinform reports, referring to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s press service.

“Special attention was paid to the aggravation of the security situation related to joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises near Ukraine's borders, further use of hybrid methods of warfare by the Russian military and political leadership against Ukraine, as well as NATO member states,” the report says.

Read more: ​UN Security Council held a Session on Russia’s Threat Against Ukraine
Ukraine and Canada defense ministers discussed Ukraine's military needs and Canada's promised aid packag / Photo credit: MOD of Ukraine, Defense Express
Defense Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov and Minister of National Defense of Canada Anita Anand held meeting on Monday, January 31/ Photo credit: MOD of Ukraine

The Defense Ministry noted that Reznikov reiterated his gratitude for the Canadian Government’s decision to provide assistance in support of Ukraine, as well as extending Operation UNIFIER until 2025 and expanding its military training mission in the country.

The parties stressed that Ukraine and Canada are strategic partners in the field of security and defense that share a common vision to counter current challenges and threats and are fully committed to peace and security in the Euro-Atlantic area, protection of common values and freedoms.

Ukraine and Canada defense ministers discussed Ukraine's military needs and Canada's promised aid packag / Photo credit: MOD of Ukraine, Defense Express
Defense Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov: "We thank the Canadian people and the Government for their unwavering support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in opposing the Russia’s threats."/ Photo credit: MOD of Ukraine

Anita Anand noted that Canada will continue to provide comprehensive support to Ukraine in the areas of developing democracy, reforms and building Ukrainian Armed Forces' capabilities, as well as implementing Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

According to Ukrainian defense ministry’s press service, Defense Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov and Minister of National Defense of Canada Anita Anand agreed on the next meeting to be held in Canada this March.

Ukraine and Canada defense ministers discussed Ukraine's military needs and Canada's promised aid packag / Photo credit: MOD of Ukraine, Defense Express
Minister of National Defence of Canada Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign affairs Melanie Joly joined Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland to announce $340 million for immediate support to Ukraine and for the extension of Operation UNIFIER for additional three years to the end of March 2025, and for increase in the total number of Canadian training military personnel of to 400 / Photo credit: MOD of Ukraine

As Canadian media reports (CBC News) Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand dring her visit to Kyiv got an updated assessment of Ukraine's military needs during a meeting with her Ukrainian counterpart.

Anand said she needs to take that list back to cabinet.

"It would be prudent in light of the very intense and sensitive security situation at the current time to discuss that first with my counterparts in cabinet and with the prime minister," Anand said.

Canada's promised aid package — some of which has arrived in Ukraine already — includes non-lethal equipment and an expansion and extension of the military training mission.

Ukraine and Canada defense ministers discussed Ukraine's military needs and Canada's promised aid packag / Photo credit: MOD of Ukraine, Defense Express
Ukraine and Canada defense ministers discussed Ukraine's military needs and Canada's promised aid packag / Photo credit: MOD of Ukraine

Anand said that, while she couldn't get into specifics, she and Reznikov "discussed cyber security in particular and how important it is to make sure cyber networks are secure."

The Ukrainian government was hit by a massive cyber attack recently. Canada's current aid package includes a promise to share with Ukraine the expertise of the Communications Security Establishment (CSE), Canada's signals intelligence and cybersecurity agency.

Ukraine and Canada defense ministers discussed Ukraine's military needs and Canada's promised aid packag / Photo credit: MOD of Ukraine, Defense Express
On Friday, January 14, a number of Ukrainian government websites, including its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were targeted in a cyberattack with threatening text that warned Ukrainians to "be afraid and wait for the worst." Ukraine has been repeatedly targeted by cyber-attackers since 2014. Composite: Screengrabs by TheGuardian

Canadian defense Minister Anita Anand arrived in Ukraine for a two-day visit of support as warnings of a possible Russian attack continue.

As reported, Canadian federal government had took decision to extend a military training mission in Ukraine, and to offer support against cyberattacks as well as non-lethal aid such as body armour and surveillance technology as the country faces a possibile Russian invasion. The Government of Canada also decided to allocate $340 million for immediate support to Ukraine.

Ukraine and Canada defense ministers discussed Ukraine's military needs and Canada's promised aid packag / Photo credit: MOD of Ukraine, Defense Express
CAF training is one part of Canada’s broader support to Ukraine

As Defense Express reported early The United States is demanding that Russia explain its military buildup near Ukraine at a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Monday, January 31.

Earlyer Ukrainian and US intelligence indicates Russia preparing operation to justify invasion of Ukraine. At the same time USA approved additional $200 mln in security aid to Ukraine and several planeloads of U.S. military aid landed at Boryspil airport in Ukraine.

Read more: A New Russia-West Cold War Becomes Hot: Battle for Ukraine and for Common Sense