Defence Minister Anita Anand announces additional military donations to Ukraine at Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting
News release
March 15, 2023 – Ottawa, Ontario – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
Today, Defence Minister Anita Anand participated virtually in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting hosted by United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, where she announced additional military assistance to Ukraine.
At the meeting, the Minister announced that Canada will donate approximately 8,000 rounds of 155mm ammunition, as well as 12 air defence missiles sourced from Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) inventory, to sustain the air defence systems currently deployed in Ukraine. Canada will also donate more than 1,800 rounds of 105mm tank training ammunition. This ammunition will support the donation of Leopard 1 tanks announced by Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Defence Minister Anita Anand also confirmed that the CAF started the shipments of the additional Leopard 2 main battle tanks pledged by Canada at the end of February. Canada has committed eight Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine in total, four of which have already been delivered to Poland with a team of CAF personnel training Ukrainian soldiers on their use. All eight Leopard 2 main battle tanks, as well as the previously announced armoured recovery vehicle, ancillary equipment, and ammunition donated by Canada, are expected to be in Ukraine in the coming weeks.
Since February 2022, Canada has committed over $1 billion in military aid to Ukraine. We continue to work closely alongside our Allies and international partners to provide and coordinate comprehensive military support for Ukraine as it fights for its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
Quotes
“Canada stands firm with Ukraine in the fight against Russia’s illegal and unjustifiable war. We are strengthening our collaboration with our Allies and partners and are continuing to respond to Ukraine’s military needs with comprehensive military aid. We will continue to do whatever it takes to safeguard freedom, democracy, and the rules-based international order.”
The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence
Quick facts
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The Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) was created by the United States Secretary of Defense in April 2022 to provide a strategic mechanism to identify critical equipment needs and gaps for Ukraine, allow Allies and partners to synchronize donations, consult and coordinate assistance to Ukraine, and build the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Convening monthly at the ministerial level, the UDCG now brings together over 40 countries. This was its tenth meeting.
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Since the beginning of 2022, Canada has committed over $5 billion in direct financial, military, humanitarian, and other assistance to Ukraine.
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Since February 2022, Canada has committed over $1 billion in military assistance donations to Ukraine. This includes over 200 Senator commercial pattern armoured vehicles, a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) with associated munitions, 39 armoured combat support vehicles, anti-tank weapons, small arms, M777 Howitzers and associated ammunition, high-resolution drone cameras, and more.
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Since late March 2022, the CAF has been assisting with the delivery of military aid for Ukraine within Europe from Canada and on behalf of our Allies and partners, transporting over 7.5 million pounds of military donations to date.
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CAF personnel are currently deployed to both the United Kingdom and Poland to assist with the training of members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine under Operation UNIFIER, Canada’s military training and capacity building mission in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
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Since the start of Operation UNIFIER in 2015, the CAF has trained over 35,000 members of the Security Forces of Ukraine in battlefield tactics and advanced military skills.
Associated links
Contacts
Daniel Minden
Press Secretary and Senior Communications Advisor
Office of the Minister of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-3100
Email: daniel.minden@forces.gc.ca
Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-904-3333
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca
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