YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARTSAKHPRESS. Canada will buy a U.S.-made National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) for Ukraine, a statement from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office said after a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden in Mexico City on Tuesday.
Trudeau and Biden are being hosted by Mexico for a North American leaders’ meeting and Trudeau told Biden about the purchase during separate discussions.
“This is the first Canadian donation of an air defense system to Ukraine,” Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand said on Twitter after the announcement.
“I spoke with Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov this morning and heard it directly: air defence systems are Ukraine’s top priority. That’s why Canada is purchasing a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) from the United States to donate to Ukraine,” Anand tweeted.
The NASAMS is a short- to medium-range ground-based air defense system that protects against drone, missile, and aircraft attack, Anand said.
In turn, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Canadian PM Justin Trudeau for “helping to protect our sky”.
“Dear Justin Trudeau, your true leadership in standing for democracy and human rights has been vividly proven again. Thank you for helping us to protect our sky. NASAMS procured for us by Canada will be a strong shield for our cities and citizens,” Zelenskyy tweeted.
The donation has a value of about C$406 million ($302.6 million), and is in addition to the C$500 million Canada promised to Ukraine in November, according to a defense ministry statement. Since February, Canada has committed more than C$1 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, according to Reuters.
