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Canada, Ukraine pledge 100-year partnership
Canada and Ukraine on Thursday signed a declaration vowing to keep a 100-year partnership between the two countries. It comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits the country for talks with Prime Minister Mark Carney and other Canadian officials. Zelenskyy and Carney said that Canada had pledged to help shore up Ukraine's air defense. "Earlier today, Canada and Ukraine finalized an agreement to deliver critical air defense interceptors (through) the United States Jumpstart mechanism," Carney said. He said that the package would amount to some 350 million Canadian dollars ($260 million, €218 million). The prime minister said that Canada had provided the equivalent of 26 billion Canadian dollars ($19 billion, €16 billion) in support for Ukraine. "We've provided support for the energy systems and beyond. We'll provide more support," he said. Zelenskyy expressed his graitude for what he described as a "very important" air defense package. "I'm so thankful," Zelenskyy said. "This is very important package of air defense and this is crucial." Speaking ahead of his meeting with Zelenskyy, Carney also emphasized Ukrainians' historical role in contributing to European settlement in the prairies of Canada's western provinces. "Ukrainians help build this province, this country. Canada will help rebuild Ukraine...