During the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s plan to “wait out and grind down” NATO and Ukraine will not succeed. Trudeau emphasized Canada’s commitment to standing by Ukraine for as long as necessary to support its security. He also announced that Canada will be training Ukrainian officer cadets at the Royal Military College in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.
Trudeau’s remarks came after the G7 leaders issued a joint declaration to show their long-term support for Ukraine. This declaration paves the way for negotiations between each nation and Ukraine to enhance the country’s military capabilities. As part of NATO’s efforts to strengthen ties with Ukraine, the NATO-Ukraine Council was established to serve as a permanent platform for consultations and emergency meetings.
While Ukraine aspires to join NATO, the leaders’ communique stated that this will be possible only when the alliance’s members agree and conditions are met. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sees the G7 initiative as a step towards NATO membership and as a deterrent against Russia.
Ukraine has been engaged in a full-scale conflict with Russia since February 24, 2022. Despite the ongoing battles in the country’s eastern region, Ukraine is currently involved in counteroffensive operations. Trudeau stressed that the G7 commitment demonstrates that countries will stand by Ukraine for years to come.
In terms of Canada’s contribution, over $1.5 billion in military assistance has been committed to Ukraine, and more than 37,000 Ukrainian military and security personnel have received training from the Canadian Armed Forces since 2015.
The officer cadet training program at the Royal Military College in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., will be an intensive program developed in partnership with NATO. Trudeau also announced an expansion of Canada’s NATO mission in Latvia, with up to 2,200 Canadian Armed Forces members being deployed in the coming years.
The issue of Ukraine’s NATO membership was a divisive topic during the summit. While Western countries are willing to provide weapons and support to Ukraine, they are reluctant to grant full NATO membership due to concerns about the country’s democracy and corruption.
U.S. President Joe Biden has openly expressed his belief that Ukraine is not yet ready to join NATO. The uncertainty surrounding the end of hostilities in Ukraine and the potential for Russia to prolong the conflict have implications for Ukraine’s NATO membership.
Overall, the NATO summit yielded positive results, but the absence of an official NATO membership invitation for Ukraine was noted. Zelenskyy expressed that joining NATO would be a significant motivating factor for Ukrainian society as the country continues to resist Russia’s aggression.
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