Ukraine’s long-standing requests and prayers for modern Western weapons are beginning to be answered, as Canada announced on Thursday that it plans to send dozens of brand new armored personnel carriers to the affected country.
This is part of the overall pressure from NATO, which has said it will help the Eastern European country become a modern military package.
At the end of a meeting of NATO leaders in Madrid, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada was working to finalize a deal to provide Ukraine with 39 armored combat support vehicles (ACSV). They were intended for the Canadian Army and were in the process of being delivered, but will be diverted instead.
In addition, the Ukrainians will receive an additional six high-resolution cameras to use their high-performance, Turkish Bayraktar drones, which have been praised for their accuracy in delivering Russian tanks and armored personnel carriers.
The deal to provide armored maintenance vehicles, which are designed exclusively for the transport of troops, will come with a maintenance package in operation and will be provided by the manufacturer General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada, based in London, Ont. They are different from infantry fighting vehicles, which are equipped with a turret and a 25-millimeter cannon.
The Canadian Army has ordered 360 of the armored support vehicles, and a senior government official, speaking in the background before the announcement, said there is a commitment to replace what is being removed from the army’s stockpile.
The source said the vehicles are expected to be armed with Ukrainian troops this summer, after some training.
The latest donation of equipment will effectively deplete the $ 500 million the liberal government has set aside for military equipment in support of Ukraine.
The announcement comes a day after it was announced that Canada had signed an agreement with Latvia to help strengthen NATO’s battle group in the Baltic country to bring it to the size of the brigade, as ordered by alliance leaders.
Trudeau said the decision would mean the deployment of additional Canadian troops.
NATO promises to boost military supplies to Ukraine
It was part of a series of historic decisions made during a two-day summit of Western military alliance leaders in Madrid.
“A strong independent Ukraine is vital to the stability of the Euro-Atlantic area,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told a media briefing late Wednesday.
His remarks came after a shocking video address to the alliance’s leaders, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose country has been trying to join NATO for more than a dozen years.
NATO Military Committee Chairman Admiral Rob Bauer, right, talks with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the start of the session during NATO’s summit in Madrid on Thursday. The Alliance has agreed to arm Ukraine with more modern military equipment. (Christoph Ena / Associated Press)
He asked them: “Ukraine has not paid enough” to join the alliance? His remarks came on the same day that Finland and Sweden were quick to join the alliance.
“We will help Ukraine move from Soviet-era equipment to modern NATO equipment, strengthen interoperability and strengthen defense and security institutions,” Stoltenberg said.
Ukraine lost tanks, armored personnel carriers
CBC News has learned that NATO planners and US officials are looking to transfer Ukrainians to modern battle tanks from the older Soviet-style T-72s and T-80s they are fighting.
An older model Russian T-72 tank was burned and destroyed in the village of Bisquitne, east of Kharkiv. He was defeated in battles with Ukrainian troops who recaptured the area in April 2022 (Murray Brewster / CBC).
Although the Ukrainians will not confirm the number, defense experts estimate that slightly less than half of Ukraine’s tank forces were lost in battle, along with two-thirds of their armored personnel carriers.
In addition, there are reports that suggest that the United States has purchased a modern national advanced surface-to-air missile system for Ukraine – similar to the one already defending the US capital.
This will increase Ukraine’s ability to defend its skies from Russian planes and cruise missiles.
The country currently uses older Soviet-built systems, such as the S-300 long-range missile batteries.
WATCH | Canada will increase its troop presence in Latvia as NATO strengthens its presence in Europe:
Canada will add troops as NATO strengthens its European presence
Canada will increase its troop numbers in Latvia as NATO increases its presence in Europe and the United States sends ships to Spain.
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