United to win: Canada to allocate over $11 mln for Ukraine demining and double F-16 flight trainers
Canada will send 15 million Canadian dollars (about 11.7 million US dollars) for demining work in Ukraine. Ottawa will also transfer two additional F-16 flight simulators to Kyiv to improve the skills of Ukrainian pilots.
The Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced this.
Canada will double the number of flight simulators.
"While in Brussels, Defense Minister Bill Blair confirmed his unwavering support for Ukraine and announced that Canada will transfer two more F-16 flight simulators from Canadian industry to Ukraine," the Defense Ministry said.
It is noted that these two flight simulators will be transferred in addition to the two similar simulators previously delivered, which will help improve the skills of Ukrainian combat pilots.
"Given the current operational pressure on Ukraine's armed forces' F-16 fleet, which limits the number of aircraft available for training, these simulators will be particularly relevant," the defense ministry stressed.
The Ministry of Defense noted that at the end of last year, Canada transferred two other F-16 training simulators to Ukraine, which allow Ukrainian pilots to practice instrument landings.
Assistance for demining Ukraine
"Canada will allocate $ 15 million to finance the project "Innovative Mine Action for Community Reconstruction in Ukraine" within the framework of the Ukrainian Community Reconstruction Fund to help strengthen Ukraine's national mine action potential, reduce the threat of explosive ordnance, and contribute to economic recovery," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.
It is noted that Canada will also allocate 2.2 million Canadian dollars (about 1.5 million US dollars) to the Cybersecurity Support Project to "provide the necessary services, equipment, and training that Ukraine desperately needs to combat malicious cyber activity."
"Canada will continue to support the Ukrainian people, firmly condemn the Kremlin's brutal actions, and use all available methods to hold Russia accountable," the foreign ministry assured.
Canadian assistance
After the Ramstein meeting on January 9, 2025, Canada announced the allocation of more than $300 million in military assistance to Ukraine:
- 200 million Canadian dollars will be allocated to the Czech initiative to purchase and deliver large-caliber ammunition for Ukraine.
- Another 50 million Canadian dollars will be spent purchasing various ammunition from Canadian manufacturers.
- Canada is allocating 100 million Canadian dollars under the "Danish model" to support the production of drones by the Ukrainian defense industry.
- In addition, Canada has trained more than 43 thousand Ukrainian soldiers as part of Operation UNIFIER.
For reference:
Canada has expanded the list of prohibited weapons and is considering transferring certain seized models to the Ukrainian military. In addition, the American-made NASAMS air defense system, which the Canadian government helped to purchase, has already been delivered to Ukraine.
Also, as a leading country in the Coalition to Strengthen the Potential of the Ukrainian Air Force, Canada has undertaken to train Ukrainian pilots over the next five years.
In total, since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, Canada has provided Ukraine with various assistance worth about 14.5 billion US dollars, of which almost 3.5 billion US dollars is military support.
