Today, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, participated in the 19th Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting, hosted by United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III.

“As brave Ukrainian soldiers fight for their country’s freedom and sovereignty, Canadians stand with them. Through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, more than fifty countries are also working together to provide Ukraine with the tools that it needs to win. Canada is committed to deepening coordination and cooperation with allies and partners as we work together to strengthen our support for Ukraine’s self-defence and protect the rules-based international order.”

The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence

• The UDCG was created by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III in April 2022 for allies and partners to synchronize donations, consult, and coordinate military assistance to Ukraine, and build the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). Regularly convening at the ministerial level, the UDCG now brings together more than 50 countries.

• Right now, Air Force Capability Coalition Coalition is focused on Ukraine’s F-16 transition, but in the future, will work on transport, rotary wing, and drones as well.

• Since February 2022, Canada has committed over $2.4 billion in military assistance to Ukraine. This includes Leopard 2 main battle tanks, one armoured recovery vehicle, armoured combat support vehicles, anti-tank weapons, small arms, M777 howitzers and associated ammunition, high-resolution drone cameras, winter clothing, and more. Canada is also contributing to multinational efforts to train pilots and maintain and support Ukraine’s F-16s.

• Since the launch of Operation UNIFIER, the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) mission for military training and capacity building in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Canada has trained more than 40,000 members of the AFU. Canada has extended this mission until March 2026, providing significant capacity for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to respond to Ukraine’s urgent training needs.

• More than 300 CAF members are deployed on Operation UNIFIER in various roles, such as the provision and coordination of training, national command support, and the facilitation and delivery of military donations in coordination with Allies and partners.

• Since 2022, Canada has three CC-130J Hercules tactical airlift aircraft, alongside a detachment of approximately 60 CAF personnel, conducting operations from a hub based out of Prestwick, Scotland. The detachment has delivered over fifteen million pounds of aid to Ukraine, from Canada and from our Allies and partners.

Associated links

• Minister Blair announces new military donations for Ukraine at the 18th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group
• Canadian military support to Ukraine
• Canada’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine
• Operation UNIFIER
• Statement on a joint coalition on F-16 training of the Ukrainian Air Force

Diana Ebadi
Press Secretary and Communications Advisor
Office of the Minister of National Defence
Email: Diana.Ebadi@forces.gc.ca

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-904-3333
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca