The Canadian authorities join those of most allied countries, which in recent days have redoubled their efforts in the area of arms shipments to Ukraine, announcing a new delivery of artillery and ammunition, including shells.
“As Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged earlier this week, Canada has provided heavy artillery to the Ukrainian Security Forces, as requested by Ukraine. To this end, Canada has now delivered several M777 howitzers and associated ammunition to the Ukrainian Security Forces, along with our American allies,” the press release states.
The shipment also includes an undetermined quantity of anti-tank ammunition, as requested by the Ukrainian Government. “As Ukrainians struggle to defend their sovereignty, freedom and independence, Canada remains committed to continuing to provide Ukraine with the military equipment it needs to fight and win this war,” Anand added in the statement.
In that context, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged and thanked on Friday that the Allies were finally handing over the weapons that Kiev had asked for, adding that the weapons would help save the lives of thousands of people.
In a late night video speech, Zelensky also said that comments by a Russian commander earlier in the day about the need to link up with Moldova showed that Moscow wanted to invade other countries.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met this Friday in Washington with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who asked for more U.S. aid in weapons and more sanctions against Russia as the instrument that “influences the aggressor the most.”
This was noted by Shmyhal at the beginning of his meeting with Blinken on a day when he also met with other members of the Administration chaired by Joe Biden to ask for help for his country from different areas.
The Ukrainian Prime Minister pointed out that his country “strongly” needs four things: weapons, sanctions for Russia, financial aid and prospects for belonging to Europe.
On weapons, he demanded more aid from the United States a day after Biden announced an additional $800 million in military assistance to the country. He also insisted on the need to persist sanctions, and called for more funding to address humanitarian and social needs and help Ukraine's macroeconomic stability.
(With information from EuropaPress, Reuters and EFE)
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