Canada to NATO Allies: Ukraine needs security guarantees after war

It is important that NATO Allies continue to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression and also support Ukraine after its victory in this war as the aggressor state will remain its neighbor.

“Yesterday we met with our friend, Minister Kuleba. It is important that we continue to support Ukraine, but also that we support Ukraine even after its victory. It is important that states offer long-term security engagement and guarantees to Ukraine because even after its victory it will still be a neighbor of very aggressive country… And this is what Canada is bringing in to the [negotiating] table,” Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly said ahead of the second day of the Meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Brussels on Wednesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

She expressed hope for a fruitful discussion today with partners and friends of the Indo-Pacific region as Canada is very interested in this region and its stability.

When asked if Canada supports the NATO Secretary General's proposal to increase minimum defense spending up to 2% of GDP, she noted that Canada had already exceeded that figure.

As reported, a two-day Meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs continues in Brussels on April 5. Today the ministers will meet with diplomatic representatives of the countries of the Asia-Pacific region – Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea.

Photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld