Prime Minister Mark Carney will travel to France early next week to meet European allies for talks on a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Carney is scheduled to meet with fellow leaders of the “Coalition of the Willing” during his Jan. 5 to 6 visit to France. The aim of the meeting is to further combine efforts among the United States, Ukraine, European allies, and Canada to support Ukraine and outline a strategy for achieving a ceasefire as Russia’s invasion nears the four-year mark, according to a Jan. 2 statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
The Coalition of the Willing is a group of approximately 35 nations that have pledged or have already provided increased political, military, and security support to Ukraine in defending itself against Russia and asserting its sovereignty.
“Canada is working relentlessly with our allies to secure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine,” Carney said in a Jan. 2 statement. “We must deter and fortify – with robust security guarantees and by ensuring Ukraine can rebuild, recover, and create the foundations of true prosperity.”
Canada has been one of the biggest per capita financial contributors to Ukraine’s recovery. Ottawa has committed $23.5 billion in aid to Ukraine since 2022, including $12 billion in direct financial support. Canada announced $2.5 billion in financing and loan guarantees when Carney met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Halifax last weekend.
The PMO said that the Coalition of the Willing is also seeking the return of Ukrainian minors who have been “unlawfully deported” since the war with Russia began in 2022.
Ceasefire
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Dec. 28 that Ukraine and Russia are “closer than ever before” to a ceasefire. Trump hosted Zelenskyy at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida where the two discussed a ceasefire plan.
Zelenskyy said during a New Year’s address that a truce with Russia was “90 percent ready” but said the remaining 10 percent needs to be resolved before an end to hostilities.
U.S.-led negotiations for a ceasefire hit a snag earlier this week after Moscow accused Ukraine of initiating a Dec. 29 attempted drone attack on the home of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the northwest of Russia. Russia said all 91 drones were successfully intercepted and prevented from carrying out the attack.
Ukraine has denied the allegations of being behind the thwarted attack and accused Russia of trying to throw the ceasefire negotiations off track.
