Canada-Ukraine 100-year partnership: What to know

Canada and Ukraine on Thursday signed a historic declaration aimed at cementing a 100-year partnership between two countries.

The pact comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Canada and held talks with PM Mark Carney and other Canadian officials.

The partnership establishes a long-term framework for a bilateral cooperation between two countries that extended beyond the support related to the Russia war while transitioning the relationship into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

“Canada and Ukraine are looking beyond this war, to the century ahead. President Zelenskyy and I have just signed a declaration for a 100-year partnership. In the coming months, we’ll co-define a long-time framework for a cooperation across defence and security, trade and investment, re-construction, energy, critical minerals, and technology,” Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters.

The key components of the agreement include:

Defence cooperation

Canada agreed to provide Kyiv with a major air defence package to shore up its defences against Russian aggression and declining missile stockpiles.

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a package of roughly CAD 350 million ($260 million) to deliver critical air defense interceptors via the U.S. Jumpstart mechanism, which President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed as "crucial."

Canada also announced the extension of Operation UNIFIER through 2029. This mission aims at providing military training to Ukraine’s military forces. Moreover, it also includes support given to Ukraine’s Armed Forces with military equipment and ammunition.

Building on previous letters of intent, the countries agreed to cooperatively manufacture uncrewed systems, counter-drone/electronic disruption capabilities, and munitions, alongside establishing a Defence, Security and Resilience Bank.

Economic, trade & reconstruction

Canada has provided an overall equivalent of CAD 26 billion in support of Ukraine, including energy systems and other critical domains.

Under this 100-year partnership, both nations will expand trade through modernized Free Trade Agreement and mobilize capital for reconstruction and recovery of Ukraine by working together with major institutions including the World Bank, IMF and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Energy and tech investment

The pact also focuses on prioritizing cooperation on energy security, critical minerals, sustainable forest management and joint tech-based investments in AI, cybersecurity and digital governance.

Cultural and mobility ties

Both leaders also committed to strengthen bilateral cooperation through cultural and mobility ties marked by education, healthcare, sport and Ukraine heritage conversation. It involves creating a migration and mobility strategy that includes adding Ukraine to Canada's conditional electronic travel authorization (eTA) system.