As invasion threat looms, Ukraine asks for weapons and Canada makes evacuation plans

Canada faced stepped-up pressure Tuesdayto match U.S. and United Kingdomshipments of defensive weapons to Ukraine as the threatof a Russian invasion continues to hang over eastern Europe.

The Liberal government has heard demands for weapons shipments both at home and in Kyiv, where Foreign Affairs Minister Mlanie Joly wrapped up a second day of meetings Tuesday with senior Ukrainian officials, including her counterpart Dmytro Kuleba.

At the same time, Canadian military officers and diplomats are grappling with the challenges they would faceifthey hadto evacuatemilitary trainers and civilians in a hurry.

Unlikethose of other allied nations, Canada's contingent of military trainers is spread out over 13 different locations in the western and central parts of Ukraine. Assembling them all for rapid evacuationcould be difficult.

But the question ofhow far the Trudeaugovernment is willing to go in supplying Ukraine withdefensive weapons systems dominated Joly's remarks Tuesday.

"We've heard loud and clear the demands on the part of the Ukrainian government. Many of the officials here have reiterated these demands," Joly said during a joint media availability with Kuleba.

She may have heard the pleas, but Ottawa is still studying the request as it has been for months. The U.K. announced on Monday that ithas shipped anti-tank weapons along with a handful of soldiers to show the Ukrainians how to use them.

Last October, the Pentagon provided Ukraine with high-tech, tank-busting Javelin missiles along with its military aid shipment.

"We know that it is important to play our part in this context and therefore we are looking at options and we'll take a decision in a timely manner," Joly said.

Feds face domestic pressure to arm Ukraine

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) has been actively lobbying the Liberal government to support Ukraine and hashad sit-down meetings with three federal ministers over the last few months.

"We are out talking to all parties, all officials who will meet with us," said Ihor Michalchyshyn, the UCC's executive director.

Last month, the UCC presented Joly with a rough list of the defensiveweapons it thought Canada could provide. It also called on the government to deploy additional sanctions againsta Russian private security contractor singled out bythe U.S. and European countriesfor penalties.

Michalchyshyn said he believes the federal government heard theirpleas and appreciatesthe gravity of the situation but there's been no sign of action on the matter of defensive weapons.

'Do it now'

"Our main point is to do it now," Michalchyshyn said. "Russia will be deterred if Ukraine has assistance now, not after an invasion. It's going to be too late to send Ukraine satellites systems and missilesif the Russians have already invaded."

At the same time, peace advocates have stepped up their pleas for the Canadian government to deny the request for additional arms.

WATCH | Canada asked to send weapons to Ukraine:

Canada joins allies in show of support for Ukraine

3 years ago

Duration 2:02

Foreign Minister Melanie Joly added to the show of Western support for Ukraine as tensions with Russia escalate.

In a statement, a coalition of groups that includesthe Canadian Foreign Policy Institutesaid it was concerned about "Canada's role in fomenting the dangerous, escalating conflict in Ukraine." Iturged the Liberals to end arms sales to Ukraineand call ahalt to the military training project.

Military and civilian officials are now considering what should happen to Canada's military training mission and how to get those soldiers along withCanadian civilians living and working in Ukraine out of harm's way.

Planning for the worst

As part of her trip to Ukraine, Joly met with trainers who have been instructing Ukrainian army soldiers and reservists in combat and battlefield first-aid skills.

Lt.-Col. Luc-Frederic Gilbert, Canadian training mission commander, acknowledged in an interview with CBC News that contingency plans for an evacuation have been drawn up. He refused to discuss the details, citing operational security.

"We are not a combat mission,"he said. "Being an unarmed mission, we have different activities here than other missions across the world. So the answer is, yes, we do have plans ..."

Canada's former military representative at NATO, retired vice admiral Bob Davidson, said getting people out under fire can be challengingbut the problems are not insurmountable with enough planning and advancenotice.

He acknowledged the federal government has struggled in the past with large-scale evacuations, but the situation in Ukraine would not come asa surprise.

Canada's most recent example of an evacuation gone wrong was its chaotic departure from Afghanistan last summer an operationthat left dozens of Canadians and people who worked for the Canadian military trapped under the Taliban regime.

Davidson saidMoscow will want to make sure non-combatants get out of the way ifthe shooting starts.

"It would not be in Russia's best interests to block forces like Canadian forces from getting out of the way because the last thing they really want is to get into any kind of conflict with NATO forces," he said.

Still, there have been reports that extra Canadian special forces troops were sent to Ukraine to help with evacuation planning.

The military has had a special forces contingent in the country as part of the training mission since the fall of 2020. Asource told Global News a separate team has now been dispatched.