Carney outlines Canada's contribution to security guarantees for Ukraine

Canada could potentially deploy its troops to Ukraine if a peace agreement is reached, Prime Minister Mark Carney has said.

As reported by CTV News, Carney said during a press conference at the Canadian embassy in Paris that any deployment of Canadian forces on the ground at this stage is only a "possibility". He emphasised that participating as part of a multinational force would have "a much bigger effect than obviously we would if we were on our own".

Carney added that his country's initial contribution to Ukraine's security guarantees could start with training, noting that Canadian soldiers are already training Ukrainian troops in Poland as part of Operation Unifier.

He stated on 6 January that his government's efforts to strengthen military capabilities will enable Canada to play a meaningful role in ensuring Ukraine's security after the war.

A senior Canadian government official briefing reporters on the plane to Paris said Canada has been negotiating for several months on providing an "appropriate and serious contribution" to Ukrainian security guarantees.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron alongside Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a declaration of intent to deploy troops in Ukraine if a peace agreement is concluded.

Zelenskyy also said that detailed discussions had taken place with the US team on monitoring potential violations of a peace agreement should one be concluded.