Canada and Ukraine to scale up drone production, build up Canada’s defence industries, and achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion over four years ago, Ukraine is, once again, at the frontline of the struggle between democracy and authoritarianism. Ukrainians have defended their territory, identity, and way of life – and Canada has been consistent and relentless in our support. At this crucial moment in the war, where Ukraine continues to innovate and strengthen, Canada is ready to do more.

To this end, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, welcomed the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to Canada this week to forge a new chapter in the Canada-Ukraine partnership. The leaders announced a series of new initiatives to bolster Canada’s sovereign drone capabilities, expand co-production with Ukraine, and establish long-term cooperation on defence and security.

First, to accelerate Canada’s own production capabilities, Prime Minister Carney today announced the creation of the Defence Drone Initiative Marketplace (DDIM) Supply Arrangement. This national digital drone marketplace will connect operators and end-users to this Canadian defence ecosystem – accelerating the discovery, acquisition, and fielding of uncrewed and counter-uncrewed capabilities. This system, modelled after Ukraine’s world-leading Brave1, will ensure the reliable, rapid, and continuous supply of drones for the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Coast Guard. Canada’s Allies and partners will have privileged access to nearly 400 trusted Canadian suppliers.

Canada has awarded initial contracts worth up to $50 million that will increase the number of drones currently deployed by the Canadian Armed Forces tenfold. This is merely the first step toward our goal of ensuring Canadian industry has the capacity – the factories, supply chains, and key components – to produce millions of drones over the next two years. Additionally, these procurements put Canada’s Build-Partner-Buy approach into action – drawing on Canadian capabilities, partnering with trusted Allies and partners, and ensuring that defence investments deliver benefits for Canadians. The contracts will require training, maintenance, repair, configuration, and sustainment to take place in Canada, supporting Canadian jobs and expertise and strengthening our ability to maintain critical defence capabilities across Canada. For these initial contracts, Canada will work with the following suppliers to procure intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance drones as well as uncrewed ground vehicles (UGV):

Second, the Prime Minister and President underlined the new partnership between General Dynamics Mission Systems-Canada and the Ukrainian company Green Tech Harvest, which will develop and produce critical drones and drone-related technologies. This partnership – building on the partnership between Airlogix LLC and Sentinel Research & Development announced in May – will expand Canadian and Ukrainian collaboration on every aspect of drone production, from the critical metals and minerals to engineering. It will leverage Canadian manufacturing to respond to Ukraine’s critical defence needs, while supporting hundreds of good jobs in Canada, and will unlock new opportunities in the skilled trades, engineering, and computer science sectors. With other partnerships in negotiations, Canada is scaling up our defence industries to defend Canada and be a reliable partner.

Third, Canada and Ukraine are forging a long term, government to government, partnership to jointly produce uncrewed systems, counter-drone technologies, and priority munitions – combining Ukrainian battlefield experience with Canadian manufacturing, software, and AI.

Building on Canada’s support for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Prime Minister Carney today announced a series of additional investments to bolster Ukraine’s defence and long-term security:

As Ukraine heads into another winter, continued Russian strikes on its energy infrastructure threaten the essential services Ukrainians rely on. To help Ukraine repair and strengthen its energy infrastructure, Canada is:

Russia’s war has taken an enormous toll on the Ukrainians, who have fought to defend their country. To support the implementation of Ukraine’s National Veteran Strategy, Canada is leading the design of a multi-donor pooled funding initiative supporting veterans and their families. Canada will provide up to $40.1 million to help Ukrainian veterans recover, rehabilitate, and transition to civilian life.

As Russia’s war continues, thousands of Ukrainian children remain separated from their families and communities after being unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred by Russia. As co-chair with Ukraine of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, Canada is committed to facilitating their immediate and unconditional return and supporting their reintegration and rehabilitation once they are home. To advance these efforts, Canada is announcing:

The leaders additionally announced a Canada-Ukraine critical minerals initiative to support joint research, bolster Ukraine’s economy and reconstruction by identifying new mineral opportunities, and help develop critical mineral production in Ukraine.

Finally, the leaders signed two declarations and issued a joint statement. The first declaration, the Canada-Ukraine Declaration for a 100-Year Partnership, along with the joint statement, establishes a new roadmap which will bolster the comprehensive strategic partnership between Canada and Ukraine. The new partnership will focus on defence innovation and cooperation, economic growth, trade and reconstruction, and people-to-people ties – underpinned by unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and long-term Euro-Atlantic integration. The partnership will extend to economic collaboration and areas where Canadian know-how can best be utilised. The second declaration, the Joint Declaration on Enhancement of the Defence and Security Cooperation between Ukraine and Canada, establishes a long-term defence partnership centred on defence industrial cooperation in cutting-edge technologies, co-development and co-production of defence equipment, and information sharing.

With the investments announced today, Canada’s total commitments of multifaceted assistance for Ukraine have now reached over $26 billion since 2022. Canada has consistently been among the largest contributors to Ukraine’s defence, recovery, and reconstruction. Canada continues to work toward securing a just and lasting peace that reunites children with their families, fortifies Ukraine’s forces, builds prosperity for the Ukrainian people, and deters Russia from ever again threatening the peace and security of Ukraine or Europe.

“Canada is, has, and always will be a steadfast ally in Ukraine’s relentless pursuit of freedom. Today, Canada and Ukraine forged a new partnership which will equip the Canadian Armed Forces with world-leading drone capabilities, create jobs across Canada, and support Ukraine as they fight to achieve a just and lasting peace. Ukraine’s fight is our fight, their struggle is our cause, and their independence will be our victory.”

The Rt. Hon. Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada