Canada sending $25-million worth of additional military equipment to Ukraine
Posted February 27, 2022 4:34 pm.
Last Updated February 27, 2022 6:17 pm.
The Trudeau government has announced it is sending more military equipment to Ukraine as the country deals with an invasion from Russia.
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and Defence Minister Anita Anand made the announcement at a press conference on Sunday afternoon.
Joly said the government is sending $25-million worth of non-lethal military equipment to Ukraine after the country requested more help.
“They need helmets, body armour, gas masks, and night vision gear,” Joly said, and the equipment will be routed through Poland to get there as quickly as possible.
Ukraine has asked for more equipment to keep their soldiers safe. They need helmets, body armour and gas masks.
Canada is delivering just that with an additional $25M worth of protective gear.
And there will be more. pic.twitter.com/y6HU4kh4Vi
— Mélanie Joly (@melaniejoly) February 27, 2022
The defence minister said a military plane will transport the equipment to Ukraine to make sure it gets there on time, and the lethal weapons that Canada has sent have arrived. However, Anand said Canadian troops will not be playing a combat role at this time in Ukraine.
RELATED: Putin puts nuclear forces on high alert, escalating tensions
Anand also said the government is considering sending more lethal weapons to help the Ukrainian military, “additional lethal aid is not off the table, we are working with our allies at the current time to determine who can provide what and how fast.”
Anand said Canada will offer up cybersecurity experts who can help Ukraine, “defend its networks against cyber attacks that are increasingly forming part of modern-day warfare.”
Does the federal government support Canadians going to Ukraine to fight against the Russian invasion?
Defence Minister @AnitaAnandMP says she understands the desire to protect the country, but notes the government has advised Canadians not to go to Ukraine #cdnpoli— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) February 27, 2022
The federal government also said it is looking to prevent cyber attacks against Canada from Russia, and to disrupt misinformation campaigns.
It says it’s looking at the option of banning Russian television network Russia Today, like many European countries have done, but nothing official yet.
Their announcements came hours after Transport Minister Omar Alghabra banned Russian from entering Canada’s airspace.
With files from The Canadian Press.
