On Sept. 9, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Calgary with the aim of reinforcing the partnership between Ukraine and Canada.

The visit came at an important moment for Ukraine. This year, Ukraine has done considerable damage to Russia’s industry and war machine. Ukraine’s position on the frontlines is the best it has been since 2023, with Ukrainian forces no longer yielding territory and actually regaining limited ground.

Yet Ukraine’s diplomatic position has deteriorated. Donald Trump’s assumption of the American presidency and his antagonistic relationship with Zelenskyy have weakened Ukraine’s international position. As a result, Ukraine’s relationships with other allies become all the more important.

The initial results of Zelenskyy’s trip underscored the strength of the Canada-Ukraine relationship. Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Mark Carney agreed to a 100-year pact to co-operate on security and economic matters, while the two countries also agreed to share drone technology.

It is important to note, however, that this co-operation is not a one-directional relationship. Canada and Ukraine deepening their bonds serves both countries’ interests in an increasingly unstable world.

The need for co-operation

The logic behind this relationship can be found in Carney’s Davos speech in 2025, in which he argued that, for middle powers to survive, they need to increase their co-operation.

While many Canadians saw........

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