• Canada and Ukraine have signed a new partnership to expand cooperation on drone production, aiming to equip the Canadian Armed Forces with world-leading capabilities and create jobs across Canada.
• The collaboration between the two countries will cover all aspects of drone production, including critical metals, minerals, and engineering, with Canada planning to establish production capacity for "millions of drones" within the next two years.
• In addition to drone production, Canada has pledged over $2 billion in assistance to Ukraine, including interceptor missiles for air defence, ammunition for Patriot air defence systems and F-16 fighter jets, and support for the energy sector and joint initiatives.

Canada and Ukraine are significantly expanding their cooperation on drone production, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday.

"Today, Canada and Ukraine forged a new partnership which will equip the Canadian Armed Forces with world-leading drone capabilities, create jobs across Canada, and support Ukraine as they fight to achieve a just and lasting peace," Carney told a press conference in Calgary.

Cooperation between the two countries is to be expanded across all areas of drone production, "from critical metals and minerals to engineering," according to a statement.

Canada also aims to establish production capacity for "millions of drones" within the next two years. Carney said Canada currently has a total of 2,000 drones.

Carney also pledged further support for Ukraine, including interceptor missiles for air defence.

Zelensky said the assistance would include ammunition for Patriot air defence systems and F-16 fighter jets, as well as support for drone production.

"Overall, today's arrangements amount to more than $2 billion [US$1.45 billion] – including a government package of more than $1 billion for our defence, primarily to protect our skies: missiles for Patriots, munitions for F-16s, and drone coproduction. There are also arrangements for our energy sector and our joint initiatives," Zelensky said.

Twenty-one Ukrainian fighter pilots are currently being trained in Canada, Zelensky said.

"With the investments announced today, Canada's total commitments of multifaceted assistance for Ukraine have now reached over $26 billion since 2022," the Canadian government said.

Zelensky also thanked Canada for its willingness to participate in the development of the European Freyja missile defence system.