Justin Trudeau promises four more Leopard tanks to Ukraine

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday that Canada would send Ukraine four more Leopard 2 heavy battle tanks, an armoured recovery vehicle and 5,000 rounds of ammunition.

The new military support comes one year after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and less than a month after Defence Minister Anita Anand said the government would provide Ukrainian forces with four of Canada’s 82 Leopard 2 tanks. Friday’s announcement brings the total number of the German-designed tanks Canada has contributed to eight.

The original four are currently in Poland, where the Canadian Armed Forces are training Ukrainian tank crews, according to the prime minister.

“Vladimir Putin made a grave miscalculation when he launched his war of aggression,” Trudeau told reporters Friday afternoon at the Fort York Armoury in Toronto, alongside Anand and Yvan Baker, Liberal MP for Etobicoke Centre.

“He underestimated Ukrainians, and he underestimated the solidarity of their friends around the world. He wanted to threaten and weaken NATO and democracies around the world, but today we are stronger and more unified than ever.”

He described the war as an “entirely senseless but avoidable tragedy born of evil,” placing the onus squarely on Russian President Vladimir Putin, who he called “cowardly and weak.”

Earlier in the day, Global Affairs Canada announced the federal government would contribute $32 million to “strengthen Ukraine’s security and stabilization,” although the government had previously announced $9.7 million of that sum this past summer.

The money will go toward demining efforts, programs to address conflict-related sexual violence, and efforts to counter chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.

Since the war began last February, Canada has committed more than $5 billion of support to Ukraine, including more than $1 billion in military aid. According to the government, Canadian forces have also trained 35,000 Ukrainian personnel.

“Canada’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty is unwavering,” Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said in a press release. “We will not stand down until Russia is held accountable for its crimes.”

On Friday, the prime minister also said Canada would impose more than a hundred new sanctions, including against Russian parliamentarians, members of Putin’s office, Russian military personnel and the defence industry.

Trudeau met virtually with other G7 leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday morning.

Afterwards, the G7 leaders released a lengthy statement that reaffirmed their “unwavering support” for Ukraine and efforts to “ensure Russia pays for Ukraine’s long-term reconstruction.”

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