Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced new aid from Canada totaling billions of dollars, a financial package that comes just ahead of his all-important sit-down with President Donald Trump.
Zelensky met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Saturday, where the pair convened a call with European leaders. After the meeting, Carney emphasized the new assistance comes at a “crucial juncture” for Ukraine, as peace talks to end the Russia-Ukraine war are at their highest level in months.
“We’re announcing today further economic assistance for Ukraine: $2.5 billion [$1.8 billion USD] worth of economic assistance that helps unlock financing from the [International Monetary Fund], from the World Bank, from the European Bank for reconstruction and redevelopment,” Carney said.
The aid comes as Zelensky is set to meet with Trump at the latter’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday.
The meeting will see the two finalize Trump’s 20-point peace plan, which has been modified by Ukrainian, Russian, and American negotiating teams for weeks.
Zelensky has expressed optimism to reporters ahead of the meeting, even pitching a referendum on the peace plan if Russia agrees to a 60-day ceasefire.
But the prospect of such a vote also appears to be already hitting a roadblock.
Earlier on Saturday, Zelensky suggested Russian President Vladimir Putin may be planning to manipulate the referendum, which would see Ukrainians vote on the peace plan.
Citing Ukrainian intelligence, he said Putin allegedly plans on having Ukrainians residing in Russia and territories temporarily occupied by Russia vote on the peace plan in order to “say that Russia does not recognize these elections.”
“Russia does not care how to convey the message of the alleged illegitimacy of the Ukrainian authorities. Russia itself is illegitimate, and therefore it will convey messages regarding the illegitimacy of Ukraine’s authorities,” Zelensky said.
Previous ceasefires have also been quickly violated by Russia, including earlier in the year on Easter, leaving that prospect equally as uncertain.
ZELENSKY ‘READY’ TO BRING TRUMP’S PEACE PLAN TO A VOTE IF RUSSIA AGREES TO 60-DAY CEASEFIRE
But Zelensky is still betting on the meeting with Trump, their first since October.
“We want to finish it as quickly as possible. That’s why I count on this meeting,” Zelensky said on Friday.
