
Zelenskyy announces new Canadian aid package following European leader discussions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed Saturday that Canada will provide a new aid package to Ukraine following discussions with European leaders amid ongoing peace talks.
Zelenskyy, stopping in Halifax, Nova Scotia, thanked Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney for joining him in consultations with European officials aimed at ending the conflict with Russia. Carney stressed that a “just and lasting peace” requires a “willing Russia” and condemned Russian strikes on Kyiv Saturday, which killed at least one person and injured more than 20.
Canada’s assistance includes $2.5 billion in economic support, Carney said, designed to unlock financing from the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Zelenskyy, preparing to meet President Trump in Florida on Sunday, called Russian President Vladimir Putin “a man of war,” accusing Moscow of rejecting proposals for a Christmas ceasefire while intensifying missile and drone strikes.
“This clearly shows how seriously they regard diplomacy,” Zelenskyy wrote on X, emphasizing the need for stronger international support for Ukraine and increased pressure on Russia. Finnish President Alexander Stubb described the call with Zelenskyy, Carney, and European leaders as productive, while Zelenskyy noted participation from French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, as well as EU and NATO representatives.
Zelenskyy underscored that strong stances on both the battlefield and in diplomacy are required to prevent Russia from evading a fair resolution. A Ukrainian official indicated that Trump was scheduled to join the call but appears not to have participated, ahead of his in-person meeting with Zelenskyy on Sunday.
Earlier this week, Zelenskyy unveiled a nearly complete 20-point peace plan, including a protective “fortress belt” in Donetsk, a referendum on the agreement, demilitarized zones for troop withdrawals, and a peace council led by Trump. Zelenskyy expressed optimism about high-level discussions before the new year, while Trump told Politico that Zelensky “doesn’t have anything until I approve it.”
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