Canada sending 4 battle tanks to Ukraine, maybe more later: Anand
Canada is sending four combat-ready battle tanks to Ukraine and will be deploying "a number" of Canadian Armed Forces members to train Ukrainian soldiers on how to operate them.
Defence Minister Anita Anand made the announcement on Thursday alongside Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre, vowing that in addition to the initial four Leopard 2 tanks, Canada may send additional tanks at a later date.
Canada's delivery of the tanks will take place "in the coming weeks," while the provision of trainers, as well as spare parts and ammunition, is pending co-ordination with allies, said the defence minister. The training will be done in a third country.
"These heavily armoured and highly protected vehicles provide soldiers with a tactical advantage on the battlefield, thanks to their excellent mobility, their firepower and there's their survivability," said Anand, who was in Ukraine to meet her counterpart last week. "These tanks will allow Ukraine to liberate even more of its territory and defend its people from Russia's brutal invasion."
The federal government's decision comes after days of dodging questions about whether Canada would be joining several other allied nations who have already responded to Ukraine's request for Western battle tanks.
Ukraine has been asking allies to offer up these military vehicles to assist its now nearly year-long defence against Russia, though the call has prompted concerns around escalating the conflict.
Asked how he'd respond to suggestions that providing battle tanks is an escalation, Eyre said if Russia wants to de-escalate, "they can leave Ukraine."
CANADA'S MOVE FOLLOWS INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE
On Wednesday, after increasing pressure, Germany and the United States announced they would be organizing the shipment of dozens of Leopard 2 tanks, The Associated Press has reported. And, after Poland called on the German government to permit other countries–such as Canada–who have purchased these German-made military vehicles to follow suit, Berlin green-lit re-exporting the tanks.
Ahead of Anand's announcement, Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called on Canada to join them.
"It is very important that the free world is in full solidarity supporting Ukraine," Morawiecki said in an exclusive interview with CTV News Channel’s Power Play. "Modern tanks are very important, extremely important on this battlefield in Ukraine. So I do hope that Canada is going to be even more generous in Canadian supplies for Ukraine."
Russia has responded to the news of a coalition of Western countries supplying these tanks to Ukraine by launching a new wave of attacks, according to The Associated Press.
WHAT EXACTLY IS CANADA SENDING?
The Canadian Armed Forces currently has 82 German-made Leopard 2 battle tanks in three variants and in various states of serviceability. These include 42 Leopard 2A4s, 20 Leopard 2A4Ms, and 20 2A6Ms.
It is the Leopard 2A4s variety that Canada is sending, the same as a number of allied countries including Poland.
"We have used them for training but also many countries in the world have used them for training as well," said Eyre, calling them "much, much better" than the tanks Russia is using.
Eyre said that for weeks the Canadian military has been making plans for how to transport these tanks to Ukraine, telling reporters that Canada's C-17 Globemasters will "probably" be used, carrying one tank per flight.
"So, the effort to get those over is going to be something serious," he said.
Anand defended the limited initial donation, saying that the number Canada is sending was "carefully considered" to ensure that domestic readiness is maintained and that the military remains able to meet its NATO commitments.
"Given the complexity of operating these tanks, it is more important than ever, that we co-ordinate our efforts tightly. Tanks are not easy to maintain, but their sustainment will be essential to Ukraine's overall success and victory," Anand said. "This is the type of approach we are taking collectively with our allies, ensuring that we have a platform of vehicles that will be important for their readiness."
Facing questions throughout the week on whether Canada would be willing to send any tanks to Ukraine, federal officials pointed to the more than $1 billion in military assistance Canada has provided Ukraine since February 2022 and said that in order to get to peace, allies needed to continue to arm Ukraine.
"This donation combined with the contributions of allies and partners will significantly help the armed forces of Ukraine as they fight heroically, to defend their nation's freedom and sovereignty," Anand said.
TANKS TO UKRAINE A 'GAME CHANGER'
Reacting to the news, Ukrainian Canadian Congress national president Alexandra Chyczij applauded Canada's decision to join the international coalition of allies sending tanks to Ukraine, calling this latest tranche of military aid a "game changer."
"Battle tanks play a fundamentally different role than the armored personnel carriers that Canada had sent previously," defence analyst David Perry of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute told CTV News.
"They have a much larger gun on them than in a lot of other cases, so they can they can pack a bigger punch. The tank treads that they have also allow them to go places that wheeled vehicles can't. And the other thing is, they're designed to withstand more incoming fire."
"It certainly gives Ukraine the offensive capability to start to push the Russians back," said retired major-general David Fraser in an interview on CTV News Channel, calling the decision an "escalation of capabilities" both from a tactical and political point of view.
"And when you add that to the $2.5 billion that the Americans have already given them in equipment, they should actually have the offensive capability in the spring to actually deliver the Russians a serious blow," Fraser said.
With files from CTV News' Annie Bergeron-Oliver, Mike Le Couteur, and Vassy Kapelos
Correction
This story has been corrected to reflect that Anand met with her Ukrainian counterpart last week.
IN DEPTH
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6922467.1718138898!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
'Not the result we wanted': Trudeau responds after surprise Conservative byelection win in Liberal stronghold
Conservative candidate Don Stewart winning the closely-watched Toronto-St. Paul's federal byelection, and delivering a stunning upset to Justin Trudeau's candidate Leslie Church in the long-time Liberal riding, has sent political shockwaves through both parties.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
Supports for passengers, farmers, artists: 7 bills from MPs and Senators to watch in 2024
When parliamentarians return to Ottawa in a few weeks to kick off the 2024 sitting, there are a few bills from MPs and senators that will be worth keeping an eye on, from a 'gutted' proposal to offer a carbon tax break to farmers, to an initiative aimed at improving Canada's DNA data bank.
Opinion
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6850735.1713368648!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6979388.1722030190!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before Jasper can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes "for several weeks."
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
'He was just gone': Police ramp up search for vulnerable 3-year-old boy in Mississauga, Ont.
Police in Mississauga are conducting a full-scale search of the city’s biggest park for a non-verbal toddler who went missing Thursday evening. Sgt. Jennifer Trimble told reporters Friday morning that there has been no trace of three-year-old Zaid Abdullah since 6:20 p.m., when he was last seen with his parents in Erindale Park, near Dundas Street West and Mississauga Road.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six figure water bill.
Health Canada warns some naloxone kits contain false instructions
Health Canada is warning some take-home naloxone kits come with bad instructions that should be ignored in favour of the correct guidance.
Paris dazzles with a rainy Olympics opening ceremony on the Seine River
Celebrating its reputation as a cradle of revolution, Paris kicked off its first Summer Olympics in a century on Friday with a rain-soaked, rule-breaking opening ceremony studded with stars and fantasy along the Seine River.
Local Spotlight
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6978272.1721953528!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
'She led it the whole way': 18-year-old B.C. woman leads hikers to safety in Jasper National Park
As fire threatened people in Jasper National Park, Colleen Knull sprung into action.
'There's mom and dad's house': New video appears to show destruction of Jasper neighbourhood
Video posted to social media on Thursday morning appears to show the charred remains of a Jasper, Alta., neighbourhood.
Sask. Second World War veteran, 103, receives France's highest national order
A Saskatchewan-born veteran of the Second World War was recently presented with France's highest national order.
Former First Nations chief voices Disney's first Ojibwe language Star Wars movie
A local First Nations elder and veteran is helping to bring the Ojibwe language to a well-known film for the first time.
Ottawa Humane Society reunites Montreal family with cat missing for 8 years
A cat who fled her Montreal home nearly a decade ago has been reunited with her family after being found in Ottawa.
Waterloo, Ont. woman out thousands after car totalled in hit-and-run
A woman in Waterloo, Ont. is out thousands of dollars for a car crash she wasn’t involved in.
'It looks scary, but they're harmless': Bees removed from Winnipeg street light
A swarm of bees living in a lamppost in Winnipeg’s Sage Creek neighbourhood has found a new home for its hive.
'Powerful symbol of the progress we have made': Land being returned to Manitoba Métis Federation
Around 100 acres of Manitoba Crown Land near the Saskatchewan border is being returned to the Métis community.
Cape Breton moose hunting suspended for 3 years due to 'significant' drop in population
Nova Scotia is suspending the licensed Cape Breton moose hunt for three years due to what the province is calling a “significant drop” in the population.