Russia calls Canada 'warmonger' over Ukraine drone deal, threatens response – National
Russia's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday strongly criticized Ottawa's production deal with Ukraine, calling Canada a “warmongering” country and vowing a “proper response.”
Department spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a news conference in Moscow that the deal, which would see Canadian-made drones headed to the battlefield in Ukraine, amounts to a “significant” increase in Canada's involvement in the Russian war.
“All pretense has been put aside,” Zakharova said in Russian, according to the translated text.
“The complete state of the regime that is far from pacifist has been revealed, but instead encourages warmongering, seeking by any means necessary to continue this bloody conflict. We have the right to give an appropriate response.”
Zakharova said Russia would deal with the Canada-Ukraine drone deal in its military and political agenda, and promised to publish the addresses of all Canadian manufacturing facilities involved in the drone deal.
Global News reached out to Global Affairs Canada for a response to Russia's comments.
Defense Minister David McGuinty, who signed the drone deal with his Ukrainian counterpart late last month at the CANSEC defense exhibition in Ottawa, told reporters that Russia's comments were “unexpected” and would not derail the deal.
“We've seen this before,” he told reporters. “It's not something they target only in Canada, they target other nations.
“We can expect the Russians to criticize, because they don't see NATO coming together to help a country in need.”
McGuinty added that the Canadian Armed Forces are “monitoring things closely.”
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The Department of National Defense says that under the agreement, the drones will be manufactured by Ukrainian company Airlogix and Canadian drone maker Sentinel R&D, based in Hamilton, Ont.
Both companies will develop drone systems in Canada that will be sent directly to the Ukrainian military under a joint venture.
“Canada is proud to deepen its defense relationship with Ukraine through this new project initiative,” McGuinty said in a statement at the time.
“This partnership demonstrates our commitment to supporting Ukraine while promoting economic growth and resilience here at home.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been seeking similar agreements on drone production with other NATO and G20 allies, which Ukrainian officials have said will include agreements to share technology.
Canada and Ukraine signed a letter of intent last fall to co-produce defense technology in both countries.
Zakharova on Wednesday quoted Prime Minister Mark Carney's speech this year at the World Economic Forum, where he warned “middle powers” like Canada must come together to negotiate appropriate agreements with the world's major powers or risk being “on the menu.”
“As we see, the regime, which is afraid, as the prime minister put it, 'on the list,' clearly has no intention of lagging behind in the development and production of this inexpensive but highly effective weapon of killing for the 21st century,” he said.
Ukraine has greatly improved its drone technology and manufacturing capabilities and has been using unmanned devices to strike deep into Russian territory, with attacks now occurring daily.
Nighttime drone strikes on Russian energy and military facilities have cut fuel supplies to Russian-controlled Crimea, Reuters reported on Wednesday.
Zakharova said the drones were used to “destroy children, civilians, schools, hospitals, delivery rooms, and attack rescuers, firefighters and medics who are trying to help the wounded.”
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to strengthen Russia's air defenses after Ukrainian jets attacked an oil field in St. Petersburg.
The attack on St. Petersburg took place a few weeks ago after Putin canceled the annual Victory Day parade in Moscow due to fears that Ukrainian drones would attack the event.
Russia has responded to attacks on Ukraine by increasing its missile and drone presence, including several strikes in the capital Kyiv after the Kremlin warned foreign diplomats to leave the city last month.
Moscow has also increased drone production for its war in Ukraine and has contracted Iranian drone technology for its fleet.
Russian dissidents told Global News that Russia's war in Ukraine is “backfiring” for Putin, who is facing growing unrest and economic difficulties at home as well as military pressure over Ukraine's drone attacks.
“Unfortunately, Russia is trying to make up for its losses on the battlefield with strikes on our cities and communities, on civilian infrastructure,” Zelenskyy said in Estonia as he met with European leaders on Tuesday.
-With files from the Canadian Press, Associated Press and Reuters
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