Canada ready to send troops to Ukraine

The small groups of Russian infantry that had entered Pokrovsk from the south are no longer in the city, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) says in its latest analysis of the operational situation in Ukraine.

Russian soldiers, belonging to sabotage and reconnaissance units, entered the city a few days ago from Zvirove, a small village south of Pokrovsk. According to ISW, Russian forces were unable to build up enough strength and resources for further advances and thus withdrew from the city.

Ukraine is pressing Russian forces north of Pokrovsk, in the Dopropilia area. About two weeks ago, Moscow troops made an incursion into that area but have encountered strong resistance from the Ukrainian military, which is already regaining some of the lost ground.

The US president said he discussed the issue of nuclear disarmament with Vladimir Putin, and that Russia is "willing to do so," as is China.

"One of the things we're trying to do with Russia and China is denuclearization, and it's very important — one of the things I discussed with President Putin there, it wasn't just that, it was other things as well — and I think denuclearization is not a joke," Trump told reporters at the White House, as quoted by CNN .

According to Trump, "Russia is willing to do it," as is China. "We cannot let nuclear weapons proliferate. We have to stop nuclear weapons," the US president emphasized.

Canadian Defense Minister David McGuinty said the country is ready to send troops to Ukraine after the war, if necessary. He thus allayed concerns about the Canadian armed forces' inability to participate in any solution found to ensure Ukraine's post-war security.

"We just got back from Ukraine. We've been able to assess and see more clearly what the needs are," McGuinty told reporters in Warsaw, as quoted by the Kyiv Independent .

Already on Sunday, on the occasion of Ukraine's Independence Day, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had admitted the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine.

McGuinty emphasized that Canada is exploring a range of assistance options, such as providing equipment, financing, logistics, or intelligence support.

Canada is part of the so-called "coalition of the willing," a group of about 30 countries working on security agreements that could form the basis of a future peace agreement.

Ukraine advocates for the need to send international forces to the country. France and the United Kingdom have already signaled their willingness to send troops, and other European countries (notably Portugal) have not ruled out this possibility.

Good morning.

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