Manitoba premier agrees to support reconstruction in region of war-torn Ukraine

The Manitoba government has signed a memorandum of understanding to help repair a war-torn region of Ukraine.

CALGARY — Manitoba’s government has signed an agreement to support an area of Ukraine in its reconstruction efforts, including in the areas of agriculture and utilizing the expertise of Manitoba Hydro.

Premier Wab Kinew made the announcement in Calgary following the G7 leaders’ summit in nearby Kananaskis. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had been scheduled to meet with Kinew but left early to go home.

Zelenskyy told the G7 that overnight Russian attacks killed 15 people and injured more than 150 in Ukraine and he called for support from allies.

Kinew virtually signed the memorandum of understanding with Governor Oleksandr Produkin to support the southern Kherson region, which is partly occupied by Russian forces.

The premier said the partnership reflects Manitoba’s unwavering support for Ukraine, as the province has welcomed more than 30,000 Ukrainians since the Russian invasion began in 2022.

“I believe the West collectively has a responsibility to Ukraine,” Kinew said Tuesday at a gathering in Calgary. “For many decades, the West has told Ukraine, ‘if you embrace democracy and you embrace human rights, then we will stand up for you.’

“Now that (they) are the front lines of the war in the global battle against totalitarianism, it is up to Canada and other democracies to back up those words with action.”

Kinew said another reason for the support is more personal.

“Manitobans have shed blood with your people on the front lines of your battlefields,” Kinew said.

“I am a native man and there’s a young native man from northern Manitoba by the name of Austin Lathlin-Bercier who gave his life in Ukraine fighting alongside the Ukrainian soldiers.”

Lathlin-Bercier, 25, from Opaskwayak Cree Nation, ventured into battle in Ukraine against invading Russian forces soon after the war broke out last year.

Kinew said a security agent at the Manitoba legislature also returned home after spending a year on the front lines.

“The reason why we want to sign the memorandum is to make sure the mothers whose children have given blood alongside your soldiers will know that they did that in service of a noble victory,” he said.

The agreement calls for collaboration in areas including agriculture, economic development, education and health care.

Kinew said he would like to start sending aid immediately.

“We would like not only to offer energy equipment, but we also have Manitoba Hydro International,” he said. “It previously has done work in Ukraine in the 1990s, so we would not only offer equipment but expertise.”

Appearing on Zelenskyy’s behalf, Ukrainian ambassador Yuliya Kovaliv welcomed Manitoba’s help.

“There’s close ties between Ukrainians and our big Ukrainian community in Canada,” said Kovaliv.

“In my estimation, we are up to two million Ukrainian Canadians across the country.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2025.

Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press