As invasion threat looms, Ukraine asks for weapons — and Canada makes evacuation plans

Canada faced stepped-up pressure Tuesday to match U.S. and United Kingdom shipments of defensive weapons to Ukraine as the threat of a Russian invasion continues to hang over eastern Europe.

The Liberal government has heard demands for weapons shipments both at home and in Kyiv, where Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly wrapped up a second day of meetings Tuesday with senior Ukrainian officials, including her counterpart Dmytro Kuleba.

At the same time, Canadian military officers and diplomats are grappling with the challenges they would face if they had to evacuate military trainers and civilians in a hurry.

Unlike those of other allied nations, Canada's contingent of military trainers is spread out over 13 different locations in the western and central parts of Ukraine. Assembling them all for rapid evacuation could be difficult.

But the question of how far the Trudeau government is willing to go in supplying Ukraine with defensive weapons systems dominated Joly's remarks Tuesday.

"We've heard loud and clear the demands on the part of the Ukrainian government. Many of the officials here have reiterated these demands," Joly said during a joint media availability with Kuleba.

She may have heard the pleas, but Ottawa is still studying the request — as it has been for months. The U.K. announced on Monday that it has shipped anti-tank weapons along with a handful of soldiers to show the Ukrainians how to use them. 

Last October, the Pentagon provided Ukraine with high-tech, tank-busting Javelin missiles along with its military aid shipment.

"We know that it is important to play our part in this context and therefore we are looking at options and we'll take a decision in a timely manner," Joly said.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) has been actively lobbying the Liberal government to support Ukraine and has had sit-down meetings with three federal ministers over the last few months.

"We are out talking to all parties, all officials who will meet with us," said Ihor Michalchyshyn, the UCC's  executive director.

Last month, the UCC presented Joly with a rough list of the defensive weapons it thought Canada could provide. It also called on the government to deploy additional sanctions against a Russian private security contractor singled out by the U.S. and European countries for penalties.

Michalchyshyn said he believes the federal government heard their pleas and appreciates the gravity of the situation — but there's been no sign of action on the matter of defensive weapons.

"Our main point is to do it now," Michalchyshyn said. "Russia will be deterred if Ukraine has assistance now, not after an invasion. It's going to be too late to send Ukraine satellites systems and missiles if the Russians have already invaded."