Ukraine leader Zelenskyy lands in Calgary ahead of meetings with Carney, Liberal cabinet

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Calgary on Wednesday night, setting the stage for a summit with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday morning. The agenda of the meeting is to discuss shared priorities, including strengthening defense, economic collaboration, and energy cooperation. Zelenskyy and his wife, Olena Zelenska, will also embark on a trip to Toronto and North Bay, Ontario before concluding their Canadian tour on Friday.

This visit marks Zelenskyy's first to Canada in 2023, following a previous trip to Halifax in December to contribute to ongoing peace talks. Mark Carney, who previously visited Kyiv in August 2025, has been advocating for Ukraine's cause since the Russian aggression began in 2014. Canada has pledged a commitment of $6.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine, which will persist until 2029.

Ukraine has successfully held back Russian advances and targeted Russian infrastructure such as oil refineries and online retail warehouses. However, Moscow has at times hinted that it may be willing to end the conflict, a stance Ukrainian and European officials disagree with, stating that the war should only cease under conditions that prevent Russia from rearming and launching further attacks.

During his stay, Zelenskyy will address a cabinet meeting in Banff, a mountain resort town near Calgary. European leaders are calling for Russia to stop its sabotage efforts, including the payment of youths to vandalize railways, halt airport operations, and allegedly attempting an explosive drone attack near a Ukrainian cargo plane. The visit of Zelenskyy coincides with growing domestic pressure within Ukraine, as the government, elected in 2019, cannot call for new elections due to martial law regulations.