Under the right conditions, Canada open to sending noncombat troops to Ukraine, Defence Minister Bill Blair says

In an interview with the Star, Blair said the idea was discussed this week in Paris but Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned of “tragic” consequences for countries that send combat troops to support Kyiv.

Canada is open to sending a limited number of military personnel to train Ukrainian troops within Ukraine, so long as such an operation took place far from the front lines of the war with Russia in a clear, noncombat role, Defence Minister Bill Blair says.

In an interview with the Star, Blair said the idea was discussed earlier this week in Paris, where he attended a security summit alongside Canada’s NATO allies and fellow supporters of Ukraine. After the meeting, French President Emmanuel Macron floated the prospect of sending troops into Ukraine, prompting a series of statements from Western allies — including Canada — who shot down the idea of sending combat soldiers into the war-torn country.