Zelenskyy meets Carney in Calgary, set to address cabinet in Banff
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy landed in Calgary on Wednesday night as part of a Canadian visit that also includes stops in Toronto and North Bay.
Why it matters
The Calgary and Banff meetings put Alberta at the centre of federal discussions on Canada's continued military and economic support for Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was scheduled to meet Prime Minister Mark Carney in Calgary before addressing federal cabinet members gathered in Banff. Zelenskyy arrived in Calgary on Wednesday night after earlier stops in Iceland and Norway, and he and his wife, Olena Zelenska, are due to continue on to Toronto and North Bay, Ont., before departing Canada on Friday.
Carney said the Calgary meeting would focus on shared priorities between Canada and Ukraine, including deeper cooperation on defence, economic ties and energy. It marks Zelenskyy's first visit to Canada since a December stop in Halifax, as Ukraine continues efforts to end the war Russia started in 2014 and escalated into a full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The visit comes as Kyiv faces a renewed barrage of Russian airstrikes and has been calling on allies for more air defence support. Canada has pledged $6.5 billion in military assistance for Ukraine, to be disbursed through 2029. In a statement issued Wednesday, Carney said Canada remains committed to supporting Ukraine's defence, recovery and reconstruction.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.