Canada will remain at the forefront of the international community’s response to Russian aggression in Ukraine.
Since the summer of 2015, 200 Canadian women and men stationed in Ukraine have trained more than 3,200 Ukrainian soldiers. The Canadian Armed Forces delivered over 90 training programs in that time.
Following is the transcript of a speech delivered to the Canadian Parliament on 20 March 20 by Harjit S. Sajjan, minister of national defense.
I welcome this opportunity to highlight the extraordinary work of our military members in advancing Operation UNIFIER, and to proudly stand behind them and our government’s decision to renew this campaign in Ukraine. I am also happy that we are debating this issue tonight, because I had the immense privilege of having seen our outstanding soldiers in action, working alongside our allies.
Support for Ukraine is important to Canadians and in particular the Ukrainian Canadian community.
On Thursday and Friday of last week, I took part in town hall meetings with the Ukrainian Canadian communities in Regina and in Winnipeg, hosted by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. Leaving Ottawa to meet and speak with Ukrainian Canadians was very important to me. They follow and feel more than anyone else in our country the horrible conflict to which Ukraine is being subjected. During these community meetings, I spoke at length about Operation Unifier and Canada’s unwavering support for Ukraine.
I also had the opportunity to respond to a wide range of questions, and one point I made clear was that this was not a partisan issue. All parties in the House agree that Canada will always stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.
I heard first-hand the gratitude that Ukrainian Canadians felt for the tremendous work of our troops on Operation Unifier.
This time last year, I spent several days with our troops serving on Operation Unifier. I observed first-hand the skills and determination our soldiers brought to this mission. I was extremely impressed with the level of training they were providing the Ukrainian armed forces. I was equally heartened by the passion the Ukrainian soldiers demonstrated in their training, and their appreciation for the experience and expertise our military trainers provided. All Canadians can be extremely proud of the work of our soldiers to defend our allies to help secure Ukraine, protect its sovereignty and contribute to global stability.
Since the summer of 2015, 200 Canadian women and men stationed in Ukraine have trained more than 3,200 Ukrainian soldiers. The Canadian Armed Forces delivered over 90 training programs in that time. Their courses have covered everything from infantry to small team training to more specialized capabilities, such as explosive ordnance disposal, military policing, medical training and modernized logistics. This invaluable training is building a knowledge base within the Ukrainian military, knowledge that is enabling the Ukrainian soldiers to take on greater responsibility for their country’s sovereignty, security and stability. The critical skills they have gained are strengthening the Ukrainian armed forces and reinforcing the strong bond that unites our countries.
I conveyed the pride of Canadians in these achievements to our service members during a town hall while I was in Ukraine last year. I thanked them for their professionalism and determination to advance democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. That appreciation was echoed by the Ukrainian leaders I met during my visit, the mayor and governor of Lviv, as well as the Ukrainian defense minister, Gen. [Stepan] Poltorak.
Gen. Poltorak told the media, “It is common knowledge that true friendship is tested during hard times. Therefore we are truly thankful to Canada for its support of our military from the very beginning of the conflict.” He continued by saying, “Canada has provided enormous assistance in training Ukrainian military and supplying equipment to strengthen our technical capacity… I am certain that advisory support which has been and continues to be provided by Canada is the best way to ensure that reforms will be successful.”
Everyone we met expressed their gratitude for Canada’s help in training Ukrainian troops and building their country’s capacity to defend its borders. Most of all, they thanked us for demonstrating unwavering support for Ukraine. Protecting Ukraine’s sovereignty is fundamental, and it is vital to its identity, economic growth and social stability. This sentiment has been repeated in this country by the Ukrainian ambassador to Canada, Mr. [Andriy] Shevchenko. He recently told the media, “Every day when your men and women train our officers and soldiers, it means saved lives.”
Our soldiers know better than anyone that sustaining this support is essential, especially now as Ukraine faces increased provocation from Russia.
We have recently seen the worst outbreak of violence in eastern Ukraine since 2015. Members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs can attest, from their visit to Ukraine last January, that Russia refuses to respect Ukraine’s sovereign territory.
Canada has consistently condemned the Russian Federation’s violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine. Last summer, while visiting Ukraine, the prime minister repeatedly reiterated that Canada stands firmly beside Ukraine, because that is what allies do.
Our work in Ukraine is just the latest chapter in our forces’ proud heritage, proving yet again that when our friends need us, Canada is there. That is why we will build on the foundation we have established under Operation Unifier. We will continue to provide critical military assistance through to the end of March 2019.
As we thank the soldiers who have achieved so much during the latest phase of this mission, the next rotation of Canadian Armed Forces service women and men has deployed. Again, it is made up mostly of the members of the 1st Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, based in Edmonton, Alberta, many of whom I have personally served with, and their commanding officers as well. These highly skilled soldiers will carry on Canada’s efforts to increase Ukraine’s ability to maintain its sovereignty, security, and stability. In practical terms, this means a continuation of tactical soldier training. This involves individual weapons training, marksmanship, tactical movement, explosive threat recognition, communication, combat survival and ethics training.
We will continue to train Ukrainian soldiers on explosive ordnance and improvised explosive device disposal. We will continue to teach force and basic investigative techniques as part of military police training. We will continue to provide casualty evacuation and combat first aid training, as well as ongoing logistics system modernization.
We will also support strategic institutional reform of Ukraine’s defense establishment. Our goal is to enhance peace support operations, interoperability, military capacity building and professional development.
Canada’s assistance to Ukraine includes the purchase and shipment of non-lethal military equipment. We have already delivered equipment such as tactical communications systems, a mobile field hospital, explosive ordnance disposal equipment, tactical medical kits and night-vision goggles. Our next shipment will include first aid kits, military police training materials, and more explosive ordnance disposal equipment. This is vital equipment that will enhance the capability of the Ukrainian armed forces, while at the same time reducing the financial burden on the Ukrainian government.
March 2017 marks three years since the Russian Federation’s annexation of Crimea, an act condemned by countries the world over. Since 2014, the conflict has killed close to 10,000 people. Canada did not stand idly by when duty called. We joined Ukraine, the United States and the United Kingdom under the Multinational Joint Commission. We demonstrated our reliability as a partner to our allies and our firm commitment to European security. Through Operation Unifier, we sent a clear signal of deterrence to Russia, and we also sent a strong message of solidarity and support to Ukraine.
Canada was the first country to recognize Ukraine’s independence in 1991. All these years later, we continue to demonstrate global leadership by helping to address ongoing global threats.
Canadian troops with Operation Unifier are already having a meaningful impact in Ukraine. They will keep doing so in the years ahead. Canada will remain at the forefront of the international community’s response to Russian aggression in Ukraine, and I, for one, could not be prouder.
Operation Unifier is just part of what we have done, and are doing, to support our allies and partners in Eastern Europe. We are also directly involved in Central and Eastern Europe, in support of our NATO allies, through Operation Reassurance. Last July, the prime minister announced that Canada has renewed Operation Reassurance until March of 2019.
In June, we will be deploying 455 Canadian army personnel in Latvia. Canada will be one of four framework nations to establish and lead a multinational battle group. This activity is part of the alliance’s enhanced forward presence in Central and Eastern Europe. I would also like to mention that we have a frigate on an ongoing rotational basis in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea and periodic air policing.
Deepening our engagement with Canada’s international partners and allies is important to this government. It was top of mind for Canadians during our defense policy consultations last year. As a result, we will see this important theme reflected throughout the forthcoming new defense policy.