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Canada and the European Union said they would “stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes” at a summit in Canada.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel for the summit.
They said in statement they will “work to address Ukraine’s immediate military and defense needs and ensure Ukraine has the long-term security commitments needed.” Michel said that the EU was “ready to do more in the weeks to come.”
Trudeau said Canada would donate 11,000 assault rifles to Ukraine along with nine million rounds of ammunition.
Von der Leyen said the EU has trained 30,000 Ukrainian troops out of its goal of 40,000. She would soon disclose details on what the EU plans to do with Russian assets it seized in response to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Despite having launched a counteroffensive in June, Ukrainian forces have so far failed to gain ground, with the war now approaching 2024.
Since the Russian invasion began in February 2022, Canada has pledged Canadian $2.4 billion (US$1.8 billion, €1.6 billion) in military aid to Ukraine.
The announcements come as the US, Ukraine’s biggest military backer by far, has been unable to pass additional funding through Congress amid political deadlock.
msh,rm,wd/wmr (Reuters, AP, AFP, dpa)
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