Carney says Canada will need millions of drones, pledges deeper work with Ukraine

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy finalized a defence agreement that will increase the size of Canada's drone inventory.

By Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press

Posted Sep 10, 2026 2:00 am.

Last Updated Sep 10, 2026 11:55 am.

Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada only has 2,000 military drones and will work with Ukraine to produce the millions needed in future years.

He welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Calgary today, where the two nations signed a joint statement on energy co-operation.

Carney says Canada is launching a national drone marketplace for the Canadian Armed Forces that will give Canada the capacity to produce millions of drones within the next two years.

He says Ukrainian drone companies that are world leaders will partner with Canadian companies to develop these drones, while Ukraine will benefit from Canadian skills in manufacturing and artificial intelligence.

He says one-third of all the drones Canada manufactures will be sent to Ukraine to help it win the war, which Russia launched in 2014 and expanded to a full-scale invasion in 2022.

Zelenskyy is scheduled to travel to Toronto and North Bay, Ont. before he departs Canada on Friday.

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney meets with Volodymyr Zelenskyy president of Ukraine, during the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

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