Canada announces $1.8B in new economic aid to Ukraine

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Canada (AA) - Canada welcomed visiting Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday with a new CAN$2.5 billion ($1.8 billion) economic aid package.

Zelenskyy stopped in Halifax where he met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and the latter announced the financial package before the pair went for talks behind closed doors.

Zelenskyy’s next port of call is Washington for peace talks with US President Donald Trump, aimed at ending the war with Russia. Carney said the atmosphere was right to sign a peace pact.

"Under President Zelenskyy's leadership, we have the conditions, the possibility of a just and lasting peace," Carney told reporters.

The meeting comes after the two leaders spoke by telephone on Friday where they discussed the “latest developments in ongoing peace talks,” according to Carney’s official website.

“Prime Minister Carney commended President Zelenskyy for his continued efforts to secure a just and lasting peace for the people of Ukraine, and the courage of the Ukrainian people as they face another winter of Russian aggression.”