Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced more support for Ukraine and a new hydrogen deal with Europe alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during the first day of her visit to Canada on March 7.
The new support to Ukraine will include the extension of military training for Ukrainian forces under Operation Unifier, Trudeau said in a joint press conference von der Leyen at a Canadian Armed Forces base in Kingston, Ontario.
“Canada is one of the European Union’s most trusted partners,” von der Leyen said at the joint press conference. “We share the same vision of the world, the same democratic values. We believe in the power of cooperation, solidarity, and multilateralism.”
She also pointed to Canada and the EU’s collaboration in supporting Ukraine through the past year in the war with Russia.
“Canada is doing much more than its fair share already compared to others and is going way beyond what is necessary. So I want to thank Canada for that,” von der Leyen said.
Trudeau also announced today that Ottawa has signed a new hydrogen agreement with the European Union.
“The new Canada-EU enhanced action plan on hydrogen will mobilize investment, support businesses, share expertise, and get clean Canadian hydrogen to Europe,” he said.
As part of broader talks on clean energy, von der Leyen said Canada and the EU have been making progress on a critical minerals agreement signed in 2021. They are also looking at a joint “green alliance,” she said, that would focus on boosting energy and climate co-operation across the board.
