Canada-Ukraine relations
Canada and the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Learn about Canada’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
On this page
- Bilateral relations
- Sanctions
- Trade relations
- Development and humanitarian assistance
- Defence support and military cooperation
- Partnerships and organizations
Bilateral relations
Canada is represented in Ukraine by the Embassy of Canada to Ukraine, in Kyiv. Ukraine is represented in Canada by an embassy in Ottawa, and consulates general in Toronto and Edmonton.
On December 2, 1991, Canada became the first Western country to recognize Ukraine’s independence. Canada and Ukraine have enjoyed a close relationship since. Our bilateral relationship is strengthened by warm people-to-people ties, rooted in the Ukrainian-Canadian community of 1.3 million people.
Canada’s response to the illegal invasion and annexation of Crimea and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, we have provided significant support to the people of Ukraine. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, Canada has committed almost $20 billion in financial, military, humanitarian, development, security, stabilization, and immigration assistance.
We continue to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s illegal and unjustifiable war.
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Sanctions
In coordination with partners, Canada has sanctioned more than 3,000 individuals and entities who are complicit in the violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and in gross and systematic human rights violations since 2014.
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Trade relations
In 2024, Canada’s merchandise exports to Ukraine totalled $478.8 million, and merchandise imports from Ukraine totalled $293.7 million. The top 3 exports to Ukraine were armored fighting vehicles and parts, unmanned aircrafts, and firearm parts and accessories. Canada’s top imports from Ukraine were natural uranium, sunflower seed and oils, and apple juice. In 2023, the stock of Canadian direct investment in Ukraine stood at $92 million (total book value).
The Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA), which entered into force on August 1, 2017, represented an important milestone in the Canada-Ukraine relationship.
The negotiation to modernize CUFTA began in 2019 and concluded in April 2023. The final agreement was signed in September 2023 in Ottawa. The modernized Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement entered into force on July 1, 2024.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought significant disruptions to international trade. Canadian companies have been forced to adapt and mitigate risks in response to the added strain of this conflict on international supply chains and global investment.
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- About the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA)
- Trade and investment agreements
- Export and import controls
- Doing business in Ukraine
Development and humanitarian assistance
Since 1991, Canada has been one of Ukraine’s leading bilateral development assistance partners. Between 2014 and 2021, Canada committed more than $250 million in development assistance. Since 2022, Canada has committed over $585 million in development assistance to support Ukraine’s emerging needs in the face of Russia’s illegal invasion, including support to Ukraine’s energy system.
Our bilateral development assistance targets the following four action areas of the Feminist International Assistance Policy:
- Inclusive governance: Focuses on strengthening the effectiveness, transparency and accountability of Ukraine’s government and justice system, supporting greater citizen participation in decision making and upholding human rights.
- Empowerment of women and girls: Strengthens the rights, protection and empowerment of Ukrainian women and girls with support for women’s rights organizations, political participation and decision making, and accountability efforts.
- Human Dignity (Child Protection and Mental Health): Canada works towards enhancing Ukraine’s capacity to provide mental health services and psychosocial support for vulnerable populations and reintegrate displaced children.
- Growth that works for everyone: Fosters inclusive economic growth and shared economic prosperity through the promotion of entrepreneurship and job creation, particularly in agriculture.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Canada has since allocated $372.2 million in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and neighbouring countries aligned with the United Nation’s Humanitarian Response Plan. This includes support to key partners such as United Nations agencies, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to provide emergency health interventions, protection services (including child protection and gender-based violence response), and essentials such as housing repair, emergency shelter, water, sanitation, and food.
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Defence support and military cooperation
Since February 2022, Canada has committed over $4.5 billion in lethal and non-lethal military assistance and equipment to Ukraine. Recent announcements include a $200 million contribution to Czechia’s initiative to procure and deliver large-calibre ammunition for Ukraine, a $100 million commitment to the Danish Model to support the production of military drones by Ukraine’s domestic defence industry, $30 million for winter gear, and $64 million worth of high-resolution drone cameras.
On February 24, 2024, the Agreement on Security Cooperation between Canada and Ukraine was signed. This historic strategic security partnership formalizes Canada’s long-term support to Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity, rebuilds its economy, protects its citizens, and pursues its integration into the Euro-Atlantic community. The Agreement is valid for 10 years and sets out key areas of current and future cooperation and support. The Agreement serves to match Canadian capabilities with Ukrainian needs, and focuses on Canada’s own strengths and areas of interest, including in demining, countering disinformation, and Women, Peace and Security, in addition to military assistance.
Since 2015, through Operation (Op) UNIFIER, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have been training the Security Forces of Ukraine (SFU). Op UNIFIER is the CAF’s military training, professionalization, and capacity building mission in support of Ukraine. Launched at the request of the Ukrainian government following the illegal annexation of Crimea, it was expanded in early 2022 during the Russian pre-invasion military build up, and has been extended through to 2026. Since the start of Op UNIFIER, the CAF has trained more than 44,000 SFU personnel, over 10,000 of whom have been trained in various locations across Europe following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In addition to contributions under Op UNIFIER, the Department of National Defence and the CAF cooperate with the SFU through the Military Training and Cooperation Program (MTCP). Since 1993, more than 3,000 Ukrainian military personnel have received training through the MTCP. Moving forward, Ukraine is expected to be the single largest beneficiary of funding under the MTCP.
At the 2023 NATO Leaders’ Summit in Vilnius, Canada and its Allies established the NATO-Ukraine Council (NUC). The NUC provides a forum for consultation between the Allies and Ukraine on security issues of common concern, including Russia’s war against Ukraine. Through this joint body, Allies and Ukraine sit as equal participants to advance political dialogue, engagement, cooperation and Ukraine’s aspirations for NATO membership. The NUC also serves as a crisis consultation mechanism between NATO and Ukraine.
Related links
- Canadian donations and military support to Ukraine
- Agreement on security cooperation between Canada and Ukraine
- Operation UNIFIER
Peace and Security Programs
Since 2022 Canada has committed nearly $225 million for Ukraine through the Peace and Stabilization Operations Program (PSOP), Weapons Threat Reduction Program (WTRP) and the Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program (ACCBP).
PSOP programming focuses on:
- strengthening the operational effectiveness of Ukrainian security sector institutions to counter war-related threats;
- protecting civilians, including victims and survivors of conflict-related sexual violence;
- addressing explosive hazard threats in order to promote stability in conflict affected regions and facilitate return and recovery; and,
- countering Russian disinformation.
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- Peace and Stabilization Operations Program
- Weapons Threat Reduction Program (WTRP)
- Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program (ACCBP)
International Police Peacekeeping and Peace Operations Program
Since March 2015, Canada has deployed Canadian civilian police officers to Ukraine through the International Police Peacekeeping and Peace Operations Program, which is jointly managed by GAC (through PSOPs), the RCMP and Public Safety Canada. The program supports Ukrainian police reform through the Canadian Police Mission in Ukraine (CPMU), a bilateral Canada-Ukraine mission.
Prior to the full-scale invasion, Canada had over 26 officers in Ukraine through the CPMU and the European Union Advisory Mission for Civilian Security Sector Reform Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine). Past contingents supported and advised Ukrainian counterparts on: gender-based violence response and investigations, implementing community policing models, improving internal accountability and oversight mechanisms. All Canadian officers were evacuated to Poland in February 2022. The current contingent does frequent trips into Ukraine to provide training on tactical first aid and a Police Safety Instructor Course (PSIC) training focused on use of force.
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Women, peace and security
The Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda and Canada’s National Action Plan on WPS are the cornerstone of Canada’s feminist foreign policy. The Action Plan aims to enhance peace and security for all people through the meaningful inclusion of women in decision-making and the protection of their rights. In Ukraine, Canada supports the implementation of the WPS agenda through, for example, support to Ukraine’s second National Action Plan on WPS and to other initiatives working alongside Ukrainian partners to increase the participation of diverse women in the security and defence sectors, including in response to reports of conflict-related sexual violence.
Partnerships and organizations
To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and Ukraine work in multilateral forums, such as:
- La Francophonie
- International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
- Open Government Partnership (OGP)
- Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
- Pacific Alliance
- United Nations (UN)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- World Trade Organization (WTO)
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