Canadian Federal Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan met with local Ukrainians in Winnipeg last night who urged the Canadian government to provide more military support to Ukraine, according to the Winnipeg Free Press.
”That`s what this is about, to show how seriously we take these viewpoints, as we look at the geopolitical aspect of things,” the minister said Friday evening, wrapping up a two-day visit to military bases in Regina and Winnipeg, the Winnipeg Free Press reported.
See also: Canada provides military training in Ukraine to deter Russian aggression
The minister didn`t commit to additional military support and he emphasized Canada`s assistance covers development, policing and diplomacy to assist Ukraine.
”The Ukrainian people are suffering in eastern Ukraine and we want to be able to show that direct support. It`s not just about troops. This is about Canadians caring about what is happening with the aggression Russia is demonstrating in that part of the world,” the minister said in an interview.
The meetings followed an announcement a week ago that Canada will extend its military training mission, Operation UNIFIER, in Ukraine until the end of March 2019. Canada`s renewed mission to Ukraine involves about 200 military trainers, the same number as the former Conservative government supplied.
See also: Russia outraged by extension of Canada`s military mission in Ukraine
