Trudeau considers deploying Canadian troops to Ukraine

 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has indicated that his government is considering deploying Canadian troops to Ukraine as part of a potential "coalition of the willing."

The announcement came on the heels of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's call for a new international force to secure Kyiv's positions following a hypothetical peace deal with Russia. The summit, held in London on Sunday, aimed to galvanize support among allies for a robust peacekeeping mission.

Trudeau, speaking to reporters, emphasized Canada's commitment to supporting Ukraine, stating, "Canada has looked at the ways it can best help and as I said a few days ago, everything's on the table." He highlighted Canada's long-standing support for Ukraine, including the training of over 44,000 Ukrainian troops since 2015 and providing nearly 20 billion in multifaceted assistance. However, estimates from Germany's Kiel Institutes suggest that the actual amount is close to 8.6 billion, placing Canada as the fifth-largest donor after the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and Japan.

The possibility of Western troops entering Ukraine is a highly sensitive issue, given the intense geopolitical tensions between Russia and the West. Moscow has firmly opposed any such deployment, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warning that without a UN mandate, Western troops would be considered legitimate targets. Lavrov has stated that such a move "would further fuel the conflict and stop any attempts to cool it down."

In a pointed response to Trudeau's comments, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova questioned Canada's capability to contribute to the coalition, humorously noting, "And who will protect Canadian soil in the event of a northward expansion of the United States? Apparently, Ukrainians who fled to Canada from mobilization."

Starmer reiterated the urgency of the situation, emphasizing that not every nation will feel able to contribute, but those that can must act. "The U.K. is prepared to back this with boots on the ground and planes in the air, together with others," Starmer stated during the London summit.

European stances and the path forward

French President Emmanuel Macron has taken a more cautious approach, proposing a temporary month-long truce in the air, on the seas and energy infrastructure. This idea, however, has been met with skepticism by Moscow, which has denounced it as a Western ploy to rearm and bolster Kyiv. Macron stated that European troops would only be deployed once the situation on the ground is deemed safe.

The international community is closely watching the developments in London and the subsequent discussions. According to media reports, Europe is developing a plan to send up to 30,000 soldiers to Ukraine, with Turkey expressing a conditional willingness to participate, contingent on its involvement in all consultations and preparations.

As the conflict in Ukraine continues to unfold, the international community is grappling with the challenging question of how to secure a lasting peace. Trudeau's indication that Canada is considering all options, including troop deployment, underscores the gravity of the situation and the global commitment to supporting Ukraine.