Zelenskyy arrives in Calgary ahead of Carney meeting

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Calgary on Wednesday night for a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The pair are expected to meet in the city Thursday morning, with Zelenskyy later addressing a cabinet in the nearby mountain resort town of Banff. Prime Minister Carney stated that the visit aims to discuss shared priorities such as enhancing defense, economic, and energy cooperation, as well as addressing the human cost of Russia's war against Ukraine.

Canada has pledged $6.5 billion in military assistance for Ukraine, which is expected to continue until 2029. Zelenskyy and his wife, Olena Zelenska, will also visit Toronto and North Bay, Ontario, before departing on Friday. This is Zelenskyy's first trip to Canada in 2023, following a visit to Halifax in December. Notably, European leaders have been criticizing Russia for expanding its war efforts, including through sabotage and drone attacks.