Russia calls Canada ‘warmonger’ over Ukraine drone deal, threatens response

Russia’s foreign ministry on Wednesday harshly criticized Ottawa’s drone production deal with Ukraine, calling Canada a “warmonger” nation and vowing “an appropriate response.”

The ministry’s spokesperson Maria Zakharova told a press briefing in Moscow that the deal, which will see Canadian-made drones head to the battlefield in Ukraine, amounts to a “significant” escalation in Canada’s involvement in the war with Russia.

“All pretense has been cast aside,” Zakharova said in Russian, according to a translated transcript.

“The full base nature of a state far from being peace-loving has been revealed, but rather a warmonger, seeking by any means necessary to further fuel this bloody conflict. We reserve the right to provide an appropriate response.”

Zakharova said Russia would account for the Canada-Ukraine drone deal in its military and political planning, and vowed to publish the addresses of all Canadian production facilities participating in the drone deal.

Global News has reached out to Global Affairs Canada for a response to Russia’s comments.