Canada’s newly announced $3.02 billion in aid to Ukraine on the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion consists of military, economic, as well as humanitarian assistance.
Aid Package
The latest funding is part of a new security cooperation agreement between Canada and Ukraine. The $3.02 billion is earmarked just for the year 2024, while the total amount committed over the 10-year agreement remains unclear.The government has provided a breakdown of the funding for some of the lower-value assistance programs included in its aid package, representing $170 million of the $3.02 billion total. The programs involve aid in the areas of development, humanitarian, peace, security, and stabilization.
Ottawa has allocated $75 million for “new peace and security assistance,” supporting demining, cybersecurity, and intelligence efforts.
This includes $45 million for expediting demining in Ukraine, to clear communities and agricultural fields from unexploded ordnance. The remaining $30 million will sustain ongoing engagement between the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Ukrainian Intelligence Service, facilitating intelligence collection and provision of material support.
Additional funding has been allocated to security, with $4 million specifically dedicated to collaborating with the U.S. Department of Energy to build counter-nuclear smuggling capabilities in Ukraine. A separate project, which received funding of $2.5 million, aims to foster community-based protection and effective civil-military engagement.
To counter potential threats related to chemical weapons, $750,000 in funding aims to enhance the capacity of Ukrainian first responders in prevention, detection, and response.
‘Gender-Responsive Priorities’
The aid package emphasizes “gender-responsive” priorities in several areas.Another $4 million is being allocated to a demining project that is specifically “gender-inclusive.” “Project activities include conducting non-technical surveys and subsequent manual clearance in targeted communities; providing capacity building to key national stakeholders; and establishing a gender and diversity working group to promote gender-transformative mine action in Ukraine,” the government says.
Trudeau: ‘Canada’s Support Is Unwavering’
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the funding announcement on Feb. 24 while in Kyiv, where he was visiting alongside several other world leaders to mark two years since the start of the war.“Two years on, Ukrainians are resolute as they defend democracy, freedom, and their identity–and Canada’s support is unwavering,” Mr. Trudeau said in the release. “We will stand with Ukraine with whatever it takes, for as long as it takes.”
This is Mr. Trudeau’s third visit to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022. He was accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and Defence Minister Bill Blair.
Previous Aid
Since the beginning of 2022, Canada has committed over $13.3 billion in funding to support Ukraine, according to the PMO’s news release.Of the $13.3 billion, $7.4 billion has been allocated as financial support to Ukraine, stated the release. No specific details were provided.
In addition, Canada has committed $352.5 million toward humanitarian assistance, including support for emergency health interventions, protection services, and essentials such as shelter, water, sanitation, and food. The Feb. 24 announcement included details of a $22.5 million portion of that $352.5 million.
The $22.5 million funding includes $10 million for the World Food Programme for immediate food support and $5 million for the United Nations Refugee Agency to aid internally displaced persons and other persons of concern. It also includes $4 million for the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund, which directs resources to respond to the critical needs of conflict-affected populations; and $3.5 million for the International Committee of the Red Cross, to provide protection, emergency relief, and other essential services.
