PM Carney visits Ukraine, promises $2 billion in military aid

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a new major round of Canadian support for Ukraine Sunday in its war with Russia.

Carney is promising $2 billion worth of military supplies for Ukraine. He indicated Canada could go even further.

Along with the military supplies, Carney is leaving open the possibility that Canadian troops could be sent to Ukraine. And people who support Ukraine here in Canada say it’s the right thing for Canada to do to stand up for freedom.

Carney’s surprise visit to Ukraine consisted of travelling overnight by train from Poland to avoid the danger of air travel in a war zone.

He joined Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at his country’s national independence day celebration and promised that help from Canada is on the way.

“We’re investing today $2 billion in new military assistance for Ukraine. 800 million of this will help strengthen Ukraine’s arsenal for the most urgently needed defence equipment, drones, ammunition, armored vehicles,” said Carney.

The $2 billion is what the Canadian PM promised in June at the G7 meeting in Alberta.

Today he went further, leaving open the possibility of Canadian troops being sent to Ukraine, possibly in a peacekeeping role to guarantee Ukrainian security if there’s a ceasefire, saying Russia’s Vladimir Putin can’t be trusted.

“With Ukraine, the modalities of those security guarantees on land, in the air and the sea — and I would not exclude the presence of troops,” said Carney.

WATCH MORE: Carney promises ‘unwavering’ support for Ukraine at G7 summit

“Helping people who are struggling is the most honorable way that countries or people can express themselves,” said Rostyslaiv Havryshkiv, a Ukrainian man living in Canada.

Rostyslaiv and other Ukrainians living in Canada were at the Sunflower Festival for Ukrainian Relief in Lincoln Sunday thinking of their families living through Russian attacks in Ukraine.

“There are everyday sirens, everyday airstrikes. People are trying their best to adapt and try to live their life the best way possible under such harsh conditions,” said Rostyslaiv.

They say the Canadian help will save lives.

“That makes millions of lives that would not die in war. That makes families that are able to get aid. That makes people that have lost their homes that are able to regain one,” said Mark Havryshkiv, another Ukrainian man living in Canada.

The sunflower is the national flower of Ukraine.  Organizers of this festival for the past four years say it’s a fitting contrast to the destruction taking place there.

And Canadians have been generous.

“There’s a ton of people that care, and they’ve certainly made that clear over the last four years,” said Joe Hube with the Sunflower Festival.

They say they’re close to raising $100,000 for humanitarian aid, which will go along with the government’s military support.

“We can’t do any more. We’re trying our best. We’re just trying to help as much as we can. The government giving this money is a tremendous help it must be to them,” said Bill Emslie with the Sunflower Festival.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy thanked Carney for his support. He said some of the Canadian aid will go toward battlefield drones which he called the top priority. Carney says the drones will come from Canadian suppliers.

WATCH MORE: Trump, Zelenskyy hopeful of trilateral talks with Putin to bring end to Russia-Ukraine war