The Canadian military may send troops to Ukraine if certain conditions are met, according to defense minister Bill Blair. Changes in battlefield conditions need to happen before Canadian troops can return to the war-torn nation, especially with recent gains by Russian troops. Ottawa had military personnel in Ukraine for combat training before the invasion in February 2022, but training has since been moved to the UK, Latvia, and Poland.
Discussions about sending foreign troops to Ukraine started after French President Emmanuel Macron stated the West will do everything to prevent Russia from winning the war. Should Canada send troops to Ukraine, they would only fulfill non-combat roles such as demining assistance, cyber operations, or weapons production. Canadian troops would stay away from the frontlines to avoid direct involvement in the conflict.
Russian President Putin warned against sending Western troops to Ukraine for combat missions, citing the risk of a global nuclear conflict. Germany, Poland, and the US have stated they will not send troops to Ukraine, and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg ruled out directly involving NATO troops in the war but pledged to continue support for Kyiv.
