Canada’s Defence Minister Anita Anand described the move as a “high-priority donation” after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met US President Joe Biden in Mexico

Canada will purchase a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) from the United States and donate it to Ukraine, Defence Minister Anita Anand announced.

Anand described the donation as “a high-priority donation” in a statement issued after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met US President Joe Biden in Mexico.

This is also expected to be “the first Canadian donation of an air defence system to Ukraine,” according to the Department of National Defence.

The assistance, worth approximately USD 406 million, is part of Ottawa's additional USD 500 million in military aid to Kyiv announced in mid-November.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Trudeau for being a true leader in defence of democracy in a tweet on Tuesday.

“Respected @JustinTrudeau, your true leadership in the defence of democracy and human rights has been clearly demonstrated again. Thank you for helping us protect our skies. The NASAMS purchased for us by Canada will be a strong shield for our cities and citizens,” he wrote in Ukrainian.

According to Ottawa, the NASAMS system, which can shoot down missiles, drones and warplanes, will improve Ukraine's air defence in the face of Russia's attack on its military and energy infrastructure.

In response to repeated sabotage on Russian soil orchestrated by Kyiv, Moscow increased its strikes on these Ukrainian facilities in early October.

Ukraine already has NASAMS supplied by the US, and the Pentagon has committed to sending eight such systems to Kyiv.

Meanwhile, Russia's Ambassador to Canada, Oleg Stepanov said that Canada's purchase of a US-made missile system for Ukraine was yet another example of Ottawa funnelling money to fuel the Ukraine war despite numerous pressing domestic issues.

“Prime Minister Trudeau's cabinet funnelling money to fuel war and support an illegitimate regime thousands of kilometres away from Canada appears ridiculous,” Sputnik quoted Stepanov as saying.

“Ridiculous, especially in light of all of Canada's domestic problems. This is simply a bystander's amusement. Of course, it is up to Canadians to decide whether or not this policy is adequate,” Stepanov added.