[ad_1]
Canada is buying gasoline and sniper rifles for Ukraine – part of the latest military aid package announced Friday by Defense Minister Anita Anand at a meeting of allies in Europe.
Anand announced that Canada purchased up to 3.3 million liters of fuel through the NATO program. The announcement was made at a monthly meeting of countries that help supply arms and equipment to the embattled Eastern European nation, held at a US air base in Ramstein, Germany.
The deal for fuel totaled $34.6 million.
The Liberal government will also buy 40 .50 sniper rifles and ammunition from a Canadian company in Winnipeg, and a $2 million radio set – 16 in total – for use in Leopard 2 tanks, eight of which were donated by Canada. The last winter army.
Another part of the aid package announced Friday includes providing Ukraine with a modular pontoon bridge that will allow combat engineers to cross rivers or replace damaged bridges.
Friday’s meeting was the first meeting of the allies since the US intelligence leak. One leaked intelligence document – reported earlier this week by the Washington Post – says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has told NATO leaders privately that Canada will not meet the military alliance’s benchmark of two percent of GDP for defense spending.
The leaked intelligence assessment, which the Post said bore the stamp of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, also said allies had grown skeptical about Canada’s capacity to meet its military commitments – particularly its pledge to increase the NATO battle group in Latvia to a brigade. .
In Washington on Thursday, a senior defense official speaking on background said the leaked classified documents would not hinder efforts to support Ukraine.
“What we have heard from our allies and partners is that … they are determined – and we welcome this – not to allow negative information or negative information to destroy our unity and focus and the strength of our goals,” the official said.
The meeting also came a day after NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg made a surprise visit to Kyiv, the first since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
He told reporters that Ukraine’s “rightful place” is in NATO.
“Over time, our support will help make this possible,” added Stoltenberg.
After the meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy upgraded long-range weapons, including modern fighter jets such as the F-16.
“I think it is important to discuss the weapon that Ukraine has been waiting for so long,” Zelenskyy said. “Especially, it’s a training between our pilots’ missions, the long-range weapons are suitable, very special [weapons]with a specific partner, with a specific number.”
NATO members Poland and Slovakia have transferred MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine as Kyiv prepares a counter-attack to retake Russian-held territory. However, the US has been reluctant to sign on to the transfer of more advanced F-16s from its inventory.
[ad_2]
Source link