Mishall RehmanThe Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) will remain in Ukraine, under Operation UNIFIER, until the end of March 2022, Harjit Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, and Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced jointly today.
“Today’s announcement reaffirms Canada’s steadfast support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and our commitment to global security. Canada’s commitment to Ukraine is unequivocal and unwavering. With the renewal of Operation UNIFIER, the women and men of our Canadian Armed Forces are playing a key role in helping build, develop and modernize the capabilities of Ukraine’s defence and security forces,” said Minister Sajjan.
The decision to remain in the region and continue to train Ukraine’s defence and security forces come due to ongoing insecurity in the region.
Through the operation, CAF members are able to provide military training and capacity building assistance to Ukraine’s defence and security forces. Training includes combined arms training, military engineering, logistics, military policing, and medical training.
This training then assists in Ukraine’s defence and security forces to provide domestic security and territorial integrity, which contribute to the overall stability of the region.
“The people of Ukraine know they can count on Canada. Operation UNIFIER is an essential part of our multifaceted support to Ukraine. We are steadfast in our commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as it works toward a stable, democratic and prosperous future. That is why Canada is also proud to host the third annual Ukraine Reform Conference in July this year,” said Minister Freeland.
Additionally, to further contribute to the stability of the region, last week Canada announced that in coordination with the European Union and the United States it will be levying new sanctions against Russia for its aggressive actions in the Black Sea and Kerch Strait.
Since the start of training in Sept. 2015, CAF members have trained more than 10,800 Ukrainian service members to be self-sufficient in their training delivery and in the conduct of military operations.
Since 2014, Canada has provided more than $750 million to Ukraine in assistance in a variety of sectors ranging from development to humanitarian aid to non-lethal military assistance.
Later this year, Canada will host the third Ukraine Reform Conference in Toronto. The conference will bring together foreign ministers from the European Union, the G7 and NATO countries to support Ukraine and its people, in meeting their ambitious democratic and economic reform programme and Euro-Atlantic goals.
