Russia condemns Canada's drone production deal with Ukraine, threatens response
Russia's foreign ministry condemned Canada's drone production deal with Ukraine, calling Ottawa a 'warmonger' and vowing 'an appropriate response.' The deal, signed last month at the CANSEC defence trade show, involves Canadian firm Sentinel R&D and Ukrainian company Airlogix co-producing drone systems in Canada for direct delivery to Ukraine's military. The threat signals escalating diplomatic tension between Moscow and Ottawa as NATO allies deepen support for Ukraine's war effort.
Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova on Wednesday sharply criticized Canada's recently signed drone co-production deal with Ukraine, accusing Ottawa of abandoning any pretense of neutrality and actively fueling the conflict. Zakharova vowed Russia would factor the deal into its military and political planning and threatened to publish the addresses of all Canadian production facilities involved. Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty, who signed the deal with his Ukrainian counterpart at the CANSEC defence trade show in Ottawa last month, dismissed the Russian reaction as 'not unexpected,' saying similar criticism had been directed at other NATO nations. The joint venture involves Hamilton, Ontario-based Sentinel R&D and Ukrainian firm Airlogix producing drone systems in Canada for shipment directly to Ukraine's armed forces. The deal is part of a broader Ukrainian strategy, championed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to secure drone co-production and technology-sharing agreements with NATO and G20 allies. The announcement comes amid intensifying drone warfare on both sides, with Ukraine striking targets deep inside Russia — including an oil terminal and naval base near St. Petersburg — while Russia has escalated missile and drone barrages against Ukrainian cities.
What's missing
The specific number of drones or total value of the Canada-Ukraine production deal has not been disclosed in either source, nor are the precise terms of any technology-sharing component of the agreement detailed.
What different sources said
- Global News CanadaCenter
Russia calls Canada ‘warmonger’ over Ukraine drone deal, threatens response
- CTV NewsCenter
Russia calls Canada a ‘warmonger,’ promises response over Ukraine drone deal
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