Canada committed $235 million Wednesday to fortify Ukraine's defences through NATO's Partnership for Peace (PURL) and Comprehensive Assistance Package (CAP) programs, as Kyiv grapples with a massive corruption scandal implicating President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's inner circle.
Liberal MP Anita Anand, speaking at NATO headquarters, underscored Ottawa's resolve: "Canada is unwavering in our support for Ukraine, and we will be for as long as it takes."
The funding aims to enhance Ukraine's military interoperability and resilience against Russian aggression, amid ongoing blackouts from Kremlin strikes on energy infrastructure.
The announcement comes days after Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) exposed a $100 million embezzlement scheme at state nuclear giant Energoatom, involving kickbacks from contractors coerced into 10-15% bribes.
Zelenskyy's business associate Tymur Mindich, two ministers, ex-deputy PM Oleksiy Chernyshov ("Che Guevara" in probes), and chief of staff Andrii Yermak—now resigned after raids—face allegations of laundering funds, some possibly to Moscow.
Zelenskyy has sanctioned Mindich and backed investigations, but critics decry wartime graft undermining morale. European allies, tying aid to reforms, welcomed the Canadian boost as a signal of enduring solidarity.