Carney says Canada will not abandon Ukraine or its NATO allies

MANILA — Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada will not, under any circumstances, abandon its commitments to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). His remarks come amid growing European concern over Russian attempts to reshape the continent's security arrangements as part of ongoing negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

Carney made the comments at a news conference on Saturday in the Philippine capital, Manila. He stressed that Europe's security cannot be a subject of bargaining between major powers without the participation of European countries and the Atlantic alliance in deciding its future.

Carney said Canada, as a NATO member, will never abandon any member country of the alliance, a message that affirms Ottawa's continued commitment to the principle of collective defence.

Carney affirms Canada's commitment to defending its allies

The prime minister stressed that Canada will continue to support NATO member countries, whatever developments may arise in the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

His remarks come amid concern that the ongoing talks could include proposals affecting the alliance's defence commitments, particularly toward European countries near the Russian border.

NATO is based on the principle of collective defence, set out in Article 5 of its founding treaty, under which an armed attack on one member is considered an attack on all members, subject to the conditions laid out in the treaty.

Some European countries fear that any new understandings with Moscow could weaken this principle or place limits on the alliance's ability to protect its members.

Concerns over widening peace negotiations with Russia

The United States is mediating talks aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war, whose full-scale phase began with Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

However, the negotiations are no longer limited to borders, disputed territory and prisoner exchanges.

The discussions have widened to include the European security arrangements that have developed since the end of the Cold War, including the future role of NATO.

This has raised concerns among European leaders that Moscow could use the negotiations to press for a reduction in the Western military presence or an adjustment to the existing security balance.

European countries stress that any agreement concerning the continent's security must respect their sovereignty and security interests.

Canada rejects giving Moscow the right to decide Europe's future

Carney rejected the idea that Russia could impose new security arrangements on Europe through negotiations.

He said the future of European security must be determined by free European countries in cooperation with NATO, not through agreements that repeat past failures.

He noted that attempts to contain Russian expansion without providing sufficient means of deterrence have historically not achieved the stability sought.

He cited earlier political experiences, including the Minsk agreements on the conflict in Ukraine, saying lasting peace requires more effective security arrangements.

This position reflects Ottawa's wish to ensure that any agreement to end the war does not weaken allies' ability to confront future threats.

Canada renews support for Ukraine and maintains sanctions

The prime minister said his country's position on Russia is clear and is reflected in the economic and political sanctions Ottawa has imposed on Moscow.

He also pointed to a recent Canadian decision to ban athletes competing under the flags of Russia or Belarus from taking part in sporting events held in Canada.

He stressed that Canada will continue to support Ukraine, as well as the principles of democracy, the rule of law and respect for the territorial integrity of states.

In a joint statement last September, Canada and Ukraine affirmed continued military and security cooperation and support for Kyiv's right to determine its own future.

The Canadian government has also previously announced that the mission to train Ukrainian forces, known as Operation UNIFIER, will continue until 2029.

Will Carney and Putin meet in China?

Attention is also turning to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, scheduled to be held in Shenzhen, China, next week.

Both Carney and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to attend.

The prime minister said he will not boycott the traditional group photo of leaders taking part in the meeting, out of respect for the host country.

He did not announce a bilateral meeting with Putin, and his participation in the group photo does not signal any change in Canada's position toward Moscow.

His position on the photo differs from that of Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand, who said last month that she would have boycotted a group photo at a Group of 20 (G20) meeting if it included her Russian counterpart.

Carney explained that taking part in the protocol ceremony does not affect his country's political and security commitments.

Future of the negotiations worries European allies

The Canadian statements come as European countries seek to ensure their interests are represented in any potential agreement to end the war.

A number of European leaders stress the need to separate negotiations on halting the fighting in Ukraine from the broader discussions on the future of the continent's security architecture.

Moscow, for its part, is calling for a reconsideration of European security arrangements and opposes NATO's continued expansion.

No final settlement has yet been announced that would produce agreement among Russia, Ukraine and Western countries on these issues.

Carney's position underscores that Canada will continue to support the Atlantic alliance and Ukraine, while insisting that any peace agreement must not come at the expense of allies' security or the sovereignty of European countries.