Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Kyiv on Sunday to strengthen defence and energy cooperation, marking another step in Canada’s continued support for Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia.

The talks resulted in the signing of a bilateral agreement on drone co-production and an action plan to implement a broader security cooperation pact. According to the Ukrainian presidential office, the initiatives are designed to enhance Ukraine’s defence capabilities and expand industrial collaboration between the two nations.

Zelensky welcomed Canada’s pledge to allocate $500 million under the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List, which will allow Ukraine to procure advanced US-made weapons. He also invited Canada to join major Ukrainian energy projects, highlighting the country’s port infrastructure and storage capacity that could facilitate Canadian gas supplies.

The Ukrainian leader further expressed hope that Canada would play an active role in implementing international security guarantees for Ukraine. He briefed Carney on Kyiv’s coordination with the United States and other partners to strengthen long-term defence arrangements.

At a joint press conference, Carney reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to Ukraine, stating that Ottawa is working with allies, the “Coalition of the Willing,” and Kyiv to establish security guarantees across land, air, and sea. While he did not rule out the possible presence of foreign troops, he stressed that “no decisions about Ukraine are made without Ukraine, and no decisions about Europe are made without Europe.”

Meanwhile, Russia signaled opposition to the idea. On Thursday, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declared that the deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine would be unacceptable to Moscow.

The discussions underscore Canada’s growing role in Ukraine’s defence and energy strategy as Kyiv seeks stronger international backing against Russia’s ongoing aggression.