Trudeau signs $3-billion security deal for Ukraine on 2nd anniversary of Russian invasion

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signed a deal in Kyiv on Saturday committing Canada to a $3.02-billion security assistance package for Ukraine, a milestone event to mark the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.

He was joined by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.

Trudeau's visit — his third to the country since the eruption of major hostilities — comes as Western support for the government of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wavers. Billions of dollars in military and economic aid is being held up in the U.S. Congress.

The security assistance deal, first promised by allies  last summer as a bridge toward Ukraine's membership in NATO, is a mixture of economic and military aid. It's meant to be stable, predictable support that Ukrainian government and Armed Forces can count on as they continue to resist Moscow's drive to absorb the country. Other allies, led by G7 nations, have signed similar agreements.

"This is a moment for us to both thank Ukraine and demonstrate our solidarity," Trudeau told Canadian reporters following a virtual meeting of G7 leaders.

"As they stand and fight for their territorial integrity, their sovereignty, their language, their culture, their very identity and their right to choose their own future, they're also standing and fighting for the international rules based order and the principles that underpin all of our democracies." 

The $3.02-billion funding commitment from Canada is for the current year. How much will be committed over the 10-year lifetime of the agreement is unclear.

What Trudeau signed on Saturday is not a binding treaty, but rather an agreement that sets out a series of measures and expectations between the two governments over the next decade. A major portion of the text spells out what Canada is already doing in terms of aid and assistance, including participation in various allied equipment coalitions that are arming Ukraine.

The deal also appears to set in place a framework for Ukraine to get better access to Canada's defence industrial base, but major portions of the text are devoted to building the country's "future" security force.

For example, unlike NATO's self-defence clause, the security assistance agreement sees Canada committed to "provide support to Ukraine in the event of future Russian attacks or aggression." That support, however, is not defined.

Trudeau said that is deliberate.

"One of the great fears that I've heard from many many Ukrainians is if there is a negotiated peace now or in a year to come, that'll just give Russia a few years to re mobilize to rearm and then to complete the job that they failed to start to complete two years ago when they hope to take Kyiv in a matter of days, if not weeks," he said.

"We are demonstrating that Canada and other countries will be unflinching in our support for Ukraine over the long term."

There are also economic assurances and pledges of humanitarian relief and help with de-mining.