CALGARY -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised Canada on Thursday for offering some form of air defence. Standing alongside Prime Minister Mark Carney before their meeting in Calgary, Zelenskyy told reporters he was thankful for the air defence while adding he wouldn’t “spoil” what seems to be a looming announcement. “This is a very important package of air defence. This is crucial. This is a big deficit in the world. We are thankful for this,” Zelenskyy said. He also praised Canada’s financial, diplomatic and moral support throughout the war, which Russia launched in 2014 and expanded to a full-scale invasion in 2022. “We are thankful that we have such strong partners as Canadians,” Zelenskyy said. “We are thankful for all the billions, all (the) packages -- what Canada did from the very beginning of this absolutely tough period, during all this war.” He said Thursday’s talks will cover preparations for winter and for the prospect of further Russian strikes on critical infrastructure. Zelenskyy was set later in the day to address federal cabinet members gathered in Banff, Alta. Carney noted the huge Ukrainian-Canadian population in Alberta and its contributions to many communities over decades. “Ukrainians helped build this province, this country. And Canada will help rebuild Ukraine when peace comes,” Carney told reporters. Carney also said Canada supports “Ukraine’s path to joining NATO” and the European Union, based on “the fundamental principle that Ukraine’s future is for Ukrainians only to decide.” Zelenskyy will speak with media later Thursday. He is also scheduled to travel to Toronto and North Bay, Ont. before he departs Canada on Friday. Zelenskyy last visited Canada in December, stopping in Halifax. Kyiv has suffered a barrage of Russian airstrikes in recent months and Ukraine has pleaded for more air defence support from its allies. Since 2022, Canada has pledged $6.5 billion in military assistance for Ukraine running through to 2029. The Kiel Institute, which measures global contributions to Ukraine, pegs Canada as the fourth most generous in raw dollars, and in 12th place based on gross domestic product. Canada’s donations include military aid, government financing and humanitarian support. Ukraine has managed in recent months to hold back Russian advances and strike targets within Russia itself, including oil refineries and warehouses owned by Russia’s biggest online retailer. Moscow has at times hinted at an end to the conflict, but Ukrainian and European officials have said the war should only end on terms that prevent Russia from rearming and attacking elsewhere. Zelenskyy’s visit to Canada comes as European leaders argue Russia is widening its war through acts of sabotage such as paying youths to vandalize railways. European airports have had to halt operations multiple times due to drone incursions attributed to Russia. Across Europe, political parties once considered fringe over their support for Russia have seen their popularity increase as the continent tackles economic, environmental and migration crises. Zelenskyy is also facing domestic pressure on his government, which was elected in 2019 and cannot call elections due to a constitutional ban on votes during martial law. In July, Zelenskyy fired both his defence minister and military chief after days of protests. Opponents have accused him of involvement in various corruption scandals. Later this month, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand will co-host a summit in Toronto focused on the return of Ukrainian children and prisoners of war. Prime Minister Carney last visited Kyiv in August 2025. His predecessor Justin Trudeau visited Ukraine each year after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 10, 2026. By Dayne Patterson, The Canadian Press With files from Bill Graveland and Dylan Robertson in Ottawa
