Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned Russia’s latest large-scale bombardment of Ukraine as “barbarism” during a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Saturday. The visit comes as Zelensky travels to Florida for high-stakes negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a new 20-point peace plan to end the nearly four-year-old conflict.
During the meeting, Carney announced $1.82 billion in fresh economic assistance for Ukraine, intended to stabilize the nation’s economy and unlock further international financing for reconstruction. Carney emphasized that while conditions for a “just and lasting peace” exist, the process is stalled by the lack of a “willing Russia,” citing the overnight strikes on Kyiv as evidence of Moscow’s continued aggression.
The latest Russian assault involved approximately 500 drones and 40 missiles targeting Kyiv and surrounding regions. According to Ukrainian authorities, the 10-hour bombardment killed two people, wounded dozens, and severed power and heating for hundreds of thousands of residents amid freezing temperatures. Zelensky described the attack as “Russia’s answer to our peace efforts,” asserting that the escalation proves President Vladimir Putin has no genuine interest in ending the war. Following his stop in Canada, Zelensky is scheduled to hold a video call with European leaders before proceeding to Florida for talks he hopes will be “very constructive.”
