Ukraine in support of that country’s preparations to deter and potentially defend against the threat of a Russian incursion.The government is, though, extending Operation Unifier for an additional three years and boosting both intelligence sharing and support to combat Russian cyber attacks, as well as sending “non-lethal equipment.” Global Affairs Canada suffers ‘cyber attack’ amid Russia-Ukraine tensions: sources Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement in a press conference late Wednesday afternoon following a three-day virtual cabinet retreat where the proposal on whether to send arms was discussed.Global News had reported earlier in the week that the federal cabinet was weighing whether to send small weapons and ammunition to Ukraine: specifically, firearms like pistols, sniper rifles and machine guns, along with potentially more intelligence sharing and cyber support.
The Ukrainian government had specifically asked for weapons from Canada, along with an extension of Operation Unifier.A Ukrainian national security official reiterated earlier in the day that the country needed Canada to urgently send it “defensive weapons.”Trudeau said Canada is deploying 60 additional Canadian Forces members now to join the roughly 200 others already on the ground as part of Canada’s military training mission, and that he is authorizing the potential for another 200 to be deployed in the future.“Things like body armour, optics and scopes, elements like that,” Trudeau said when asked to explain what non-lethal aid Canada plans to provide and why the decision was made not to send weapons.He was asked by multiple journalists to provide a clear answer as to why the government has decided not to send weapons to Ukraine..