Canada, Ukraine forge 100

Canada, Ukraine forge 100-year pact built on drones and defence

Wide-ranging partnership to cover trade, investment, energy and critical minerals

Canada and Ukraine were bound together more tightly on Thursday with the signing of a long-term strategic and political partnership that lays the foundation for the construction of millions of drones to defend both countries.

The countries signed a declaration to establish a 100-year partnership that stretches across defence and security, trade and investment, as well as energy and critical minerals.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said the war in Ukraine is at a turning point where some of its uncrewed systems are now reaching hundreds of kilometres inside of Russia.

He also acknowledged the heavy toll Russia's stepped-up missile and drone campaign is having on Ukraine, especially Kyiv which has been under relentless night and day bombardment.

"Canada will always stand in solidarity with Ukraine," Carney said alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Calgary.

"Canadians understand in our bones the importance of your struggle. There is no qualification to our commitment. Because your cause — freedom, democracy, sovereignty — is our cause."

Ripping a page out of Ukraine's wartime experience, Canada plans to create its own drone marketplace where individual military units can reach out to companies to quickly fulfil their needs.

"This is a key part of our plan to build the industrial capacity to produce millions of drones within the next two years," Carney said.

At the moment, the Canadian military has only 2,000 drones — of all types — in its inventory.

The governments also plan to partner Canadian and Ukrainian companies to build drones.

"As a result, Canadian industry will learn from the most battle-tested developers on earth," Carney said.

Canada and Ukraine are also forging a long-term partnership to jointly produce uncrewed systems, counter-drone technologies, munitions and artificial intelligence technology.

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Zelenskyy called it a "very important package" and a decision that could affect the lives of Ukrainians.

"I'm very happy to be here among friends," the Ukrainian president said prior to the signing of the agreement. "Thank you for your support, supporting Ukraine, Ukrainians, our children, our sovereignty."

Carney also announced that Canada will contribute to the Ukraine Energy Security Fund to repair energy infrastructure, increase storage capacity and power hospitals. To help Ukrainians get through the winter, Canada will provide over $430 million in loan guarantees for gas purchases.

In addition, Canada is putting $350 million toward an air defence package. The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has created a shortage of air defence missiles that has directly affected Ukraine.

Senior reporter, defence and security

Murray Brewster is the senior defence writer for CBC News, based in Ottawa. He has covered the Canadian military and foreign policy from Parliament Hill for over a decade. Among other assignments, he spent a total of 15 months on the ground covering the Afghan war for The Canadian Press. Prior to that, he covered defence issues and politics for CP in Nova Scotia for 11 years and was bureau chief for Standard Broadcast News in Ottawa.