Ottawa – Today Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland announced that Canada will include Ukraine in the Automatic Firearms Country Control List (AFCCL). Through this announcement, Canada once again demonstrates its steadfast support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.
“Foreign Minister Freeland’s announcement reflects the close ties and special relationship between Canada and Ukraine. Canada continues to demonstrate solidarity with Ukraine during this time of continuing military aggression by the Putin regime. Canadian armed forces personnel will not only continue to train and help to further professionalize the armed forces of Ukraine, but now these brave Ukrainian soldiers heading to the hot conflict on Ukraine’s eastern front will have the opportunity to be properly equipped,” stated Wrzesnewskyj.
This change, announced in the Canada Gazette, will allow Canadian companies and individuals to apply for a permit to export firearms, weapons and devices to Ukraine.
Today’s announcement follows on the heels of a series of military cooperation initiatives and agreements that include: the extension and broadening of Canada’s military training mission in Ukraine (Operation Unifier), without geographic limitations, for another 2 years; the signing of the Canada-Ukraine Defence Cooperation Arrangement; and, Canada’s co-founding of the Ukrainian Defence Reform Advisory Board and the placement of Jill Sinclair, a former Assistant Deputy Minister of Defence, on this body to help Ukraine become NATO compliant by 2020.
“Today Ukriane’s front line soldiers are not only fighting for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, but are a shield for NATO and the countries of the liberal democratic West. In militarily standing steadfast with Ukraine, we are clearly signaling President Putin that there will be consequences for his undermining of the rules-based international order and the sanctity of borders,” concluded Wrzesnewskyj.
