During a meeting in Warsaw on Monday, Canada's Defence Minister Bill Blair declared that his country would strengthen its troop presence on NATO's eastern flank in response to Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
"We have agreed to strengthen the relations between Poland and Canada in the areas of defence, security and exchange of experiences even further," Poland's Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said after the talks.
Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. Photo: PAP/Piotr Nowak
Kosiniak-Kamysz added that he and Blair also discussed steps to ensure continued support for Ukraine when they met in Warsaw on Monday.
Blair "thanked everyone in Poland, particularly the soldiers who cooperate with Canadian servicemen and are jointly responsible for the logistics tied to sending equipment to Ukraine," Kosiniak-Kamysz said, as quoted by the Polish defence ministry.
Kosiniak-Kamysz, who is also a Polish deputy prime minister, added that Blair's "thanks were expressed to those soldiers who are involved with sending both military and humanitarian aid."
Poland and Canada "cooperate within the frameworks of bilateral initiatives, such as NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence on the Alliance’s eastern flank," the Polish defence ministry said in a statement.
It added that "both countries have supported Ukraine from the first day of the Russian aggression."
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
Monday is day 663 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, gov.pl/gov.pl