Murray Wood: We should defend Ukraine because it is the right thing to do.
Four years of Russian barbarism after the invasion of Ukraine seem to have left some Canadians less concerned about that...
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke with European leaders Tuesday on the latest efforts to advance Ukraine’s security and recovery.
In a social media post, Carney said Canada and European leaders support efforts to reach a negotiated settlement to the conflict sparked by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine almost four years ago.
They also stand ready to provide “robust security guarantees for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine,” Carney said.
The virtual meeting included Carney, European leaders, heads of European institutions and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, according to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
“Peace is on the horizon,” Tusk told a Polish cabinet meeting. But he added: “It is still far from a 100 per cent certainty.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Carney on Saturday in Nova Scotia before heading to Florida for the latest talks on a possible peace agreement.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who hosted Zelenskyy on Sunday at his Mar-a-Lago resort, insisted that Ukraine and Russia were “closer than ever before” to a peace settlement, though he acknowledged that outstanding obstacles could prevent a deal.
Global Affairs Canada says Ottawa is closely engaged with Ukraine, the United States and European partners as discussions continue about the path toward a just and lasting peace.
On Tuesday, Zelenskyy announced plans for meetings with officials from about 30 countries including Canada — dubbed the Coalition of the Willing — that support Kyiv’s effort to end the war with Russia on acceptable terms.
National security advisers from those countries aim to meet in Ukraine on Saturday, followed by a meeting of the countries’ leaders on Jan. 6 in France, he said on social media.
Zelenskyy thanked Trump administration officials for their readiness to participate but provided no further details.
Laura Scaffidi, a spokesperson for Carney’s office, said Tuesday “we can confirm that officials from the Canadian government will be present for the negotiations and meetings.”
“Details regarding participation by the prime minister specifically would be confirmed closer to the date of the meetings.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 30, 2025.
— With files from The Associated Press
Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press
