In Kyiv, Carney not ruling out Canadian troops in Ukraine if peace deal reached

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KYIV — Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada could deploy military troops to Ukraine as part of an eventual security guarantee against Russia. 

Carney made the remarks at a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after a meeting between the two.leaders in Kyiv, where the prime minister made an unannounced stop Sunday. 

When asked what kind of security guarantees Canada could provide to Ukraine, Carney said Ukraine’s own military must be supported but that more than that will be required. 

“I would not exclude the presence of troops,” he said. 

Carney said Canada doesn’t think it is “realistic” that Ukraine’s military alone would be enough for a security guarantee. 

“So that needs to be buttressed, it needs to reinforced,” he said, adding Canada is working with allies in the Coalition of the Willing about what other forms of protection could be offered by land, air and sea. 

Canada has been part of talks for more than two years seeking to help secure any sort of peace deal in Ukraine. Those talks morphed last fall into a coalition of nations seeking to contribute to maintaining peace in Ukraine, if a ceasefire is reached. It includes most European nations as well as Canada, Japan and Australia. 

Carney was in Kyiv as a guest of Zelenskyy to participate in Ukraine’s Independence Day. In a speech at a ceremony marking the holiday, Carney said in French that Ukraine is at a critical moment of the war, and that the support of the international community must intensify. 

His visit comes as efforts to find a peace deal ramped up over the last week, though there does not appear to be any immediate sign of a deal. 

“When that peace comes … Canada will be there,” Carney said in his speech. 

“We will be there with you to promote peace, security and prosperity for Ukraine once the killing stops.” 

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U.S. President Donald Trump tried to move the peace process along this month, first hosting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Aug. 15, and then Zelenskyy and other European leaders at the White House a few days later. 

In his speech, Carney applauded “the leadership of the transformative U.S. President Donald Trump in creating the possibilities for peace.” 

Despite those talks, Moscow unleashed a heavy barrage of strikes on Ukraine earlier this week and continues to insist it must be involved in any security guarantees for Ukraine. Zelenskyy has rejected any such involvement. 

Security guarantees will be largely dependent on the United States. Trump said in recent days that there will be no U.S. troops on the ground in Ukraine but suggested air presence and intelligence support could be part of any security guarantees in an eventual peace deal. 

Carney left Canada early Saturday for an extended trip to Europe that will also include stops in Poland, Germany and Latvia. He arrived in Kyiv by train early Sunday. The Ukraine leg of the trip was made under a media blackout for security reasons. 

Carney and Defence Minister David McGuinty were greeted Sunday morning at the Kyiv main train station by Canada’s ambassador to Ukraine Natalka Cmoc and Ukrainian government officials including ambassador-designate for Ukraine to Canada Andrii Plakhotniuk. 

The prime minister delivered a speech as part of Independence Day ceremonies in Sophia Square surrounded by Ukrainian officials, soldiers and dignitaries. Keith Kellogg, the U.S. envoy to Ukraine, was in attendance alongside defence ministers from a handful of supporting nations. 

“Mr. President, dear friends, my message today is simple: Canada will always stand in solidarity with Ukraine,” Carney said. 

“Canada will always be with you, so your many sacrifices lead to the peace, security and prosperity that all Ukrainians _ that all peoples — deserve.” 

He said Ukraine’s cause — of freedom, democracy and sovereignty — is Canada’s cause. 

Carney noted that Canada was the first western nation to recognize Ukrainian independence under former prime minister Brian Mulroney. 

In Canada, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre issued a statement recognizing the day and expressing support for Ukraine. He said the Conservatives would “oppose any so-called ‘peace attempts’ that refuse Kyiv its rightful place at the table.” 

In his speech, Carney said his own upbringing reflected Ukraine and its diaspora in Canada. 

“I grew up on the Canadian prairies where my horizon looked like your flag. Where my classmates bore your names, and their parents and grandparents spoke your language,” he said. 

“The Ukrainian people are part of Canada’s story, a story whose best chapters are yet to be written.” 

Zelenskyy addressed the crowd ahead of Carney, saying in Ukrainian that it was an honour to have the prime minister for his first official visit to Ukraine. 

In a social media post later on Sunday, he said the meeting with Carney was “very meaningful” and thanked the prime minister for his support. 

“Today, important documents and clear agreements have been signed,” Zelenskyy said. 

He added some of the funds from Canada will go towards the production of drones. 

“Right now, drones are the number one priority in defence and tactical operations, as they help save lives on the battlefield,” Zelenskyy said. 

After his speech, Carney joined Zelenskyy and the president’s wife, Olena Zelenska, to lay flowers at the wall of remembrance of the fallen. 

Carney, in his speech, blamed Putin for the terror facing Ukrainians. 

“But Putin can be stopped. Russia’s economy is weakening. He is becoming more isolated. And our alliance is hardening. It’s growing more effective, more determined, more united,” Carney said. 

A Canadian government official briefing reporters before the trip, said Russia is making “slow” progress in its campaign to retake Ukrainian soil. 

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Canadian intelligence suggests Russia is losing 1,000 soldiers per day in the conflict while Ukraine is estimated to be losing about 500 soldiers daily, the official said. 

Russia has been recruiting soldiers from other counties, such as North Korea, to sustain its war effort, the official said.

That has caused a lack of alignment in training in the Russian ranks leading to a loss of morale, giving Ukraine an advantage on that front. 

Experts say Canada has a vested interest in allying with Ukraine and other Western nations in guarding against an expansionist Russia, particularly in Arctic territories. 

The Canadian official said it’s important within the coalition to keep momentum building instead of having steps back as in the past. 

Many obstacles still exist to securing a peace deal, including determining conditions for a ceasefire and the fate of Russian-occupied territories and the Donbas. 

Moscow illegally annexed Crimea and its forces hold parts of four other regions outside the Donbas. In all, Russia holds about one-fifth of Ukraine. 

Ukraine is also seeking security guarantees against any future Russian incursion. 

There are Canadian soldiers in Europe as part of Operation Unifier, a mission to train Ukrainian soldiers launched after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. 

Canada’s support so far in the conflict includes $22 billion in financial support for Ukraine, largely in the form of loans, according to Ottawa’s tallies. A separate, independent estimate from the Kiel group pegs this amount closer to $19.7 billion. 

Canada has a significant role in humanitarian initiatives, such as work to resettle Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, maintain maternal health services and the detection and removal of landmines. 

— With files from Craig Lord in Warsaw, Dylan Robertson in Ottawa and The Associated Press