Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney made a surprise visit to Kyiv on Sunday to join President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in celebrating Ukrainian Independence Day, marking Canada’s role as part of the “coalition of the willing” providing military support to Ukraine. The visit comes amid stalled peace efforts by former US President Donald Trump and highlights Canada’s unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine.
Carney’s arrival in Kyiv underscores Canada’s history with Ukraine, dating back to 1891 when it welcomed Ukrainian settlers, becoming the first Western nation to recognize Ukraine as a country in December 1991. Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, Canada has granted sanctuary to over 300,000 Ukrainians and trained 45,000 Ukrainian troops through NATO’s Operation Unifier.
Carney will continue his European trip this week, visiting Poland and Latvia to meet with officials and Canadian Forces personnel, as well as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Discussions in Germany will focus on bolstering economic cooperation and investment in defense and security, including securing critical mineral supply chains.
The visit comes after Carney recently announced C$2 billion in new military support for Ukraine and a C$2.3 billion loan through a G7 loan acceleration mechanism. Canada’s efforts also include repatriating Ukrainian children seized by Russia since 2022, with the First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump, calling on President Putin to consider their plight.
Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/24/carney-hearts-zelenskyy-in-kyiv-00521580