With the prospects for peace appearing as distant as ever — despite attempts by the Trump administration to broker a settlement in the war between Ukraine and Russia — Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday unveiled details of Canada's $2 billion in additional military aid.

Carney also publicly committed to reintroducing troops to the war-torn country in some capacity should there ever be a ceasefire.

It's Carney's first official visit to the war-torn country. He met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a time when the prospects for peace appear as distant as ever despite attempts by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to broker a Ukraine-Russia settlement.

In a speech in historic Sophia Square in Kyiv on Ukraine's Independence Day, Carney said more than $1 billion of the aid package will be used to finance the purchase of high-priority equipment from the United States, through NATO, as well as ammunition, and advance drone and armoured vehicle production from Canadian suppliers.

Another $220 million will be set aside to purchase drone, counter-drone, and electronic warfare capabilities, which will include investments in joint ventures between Ukrainian and Canadian industry. The two countries signed a Letter of Intent on Canada-Ukraine Joint Production of Defence Material.

Carney reiterated his support for Canada's participation in the"coalition of the willing," and did not rule out providing boots on the ground in Ukraine, but it's not clear whether that would be in a training capacity or as part of a peacekeeping force.

Canada had troops in Ukraine to conduct military training up to the full Russian invasion in February 2022. It has continued the training program, known as Operation Unifier, in other countries, including the United Kingdom and Poland.

The additional $2 billion in defence aid was announced at the G7 leaders' summit in Kananaskis, Alta., in June.

Ukraine marks Independence Day celebrations

Carney's trip was made under a strict news blackout and amid tight security as the Ukrainian capital is a frequent target for Russian missile and drone strikes.

The prime minister's visit coincides with Ukraine's Independence Day celebrations. He was invited as a"special guest," according to Canadian officials who briefed journalists about the journey. Ukraine, which has always had its own distinct cultural identity, declared its independence on Aug. 24, 1991, heralding the collapse of the Soviet Union less than six months later.

Carney said the lessons of history are obvious.

"We know that Putin can never be trusted," he said in his speech."We know that true peace and security will require security guarantees for Ukraine."

In search of security guarantees

As a hedge against Russia using a possible ceasefire — or peace settlement — as simply a pause between wars, Ukraine is asking allies for concrete guarantees and measures of support.

"Putin has broken his word repeatedly from Minsk to this morning," Carney said in reference to the two failed attempts at peace brokered in Minsk, Belarus, prior to Russia's full invasion.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently led a delegation to discuss what allies are prepared to offer in terms of postwar guarantees. He was accompanied by senior American generals and top national security advisers from the U.K., France, Germany, Italy and Finland, and met with Andriy Yermak, the top adviser to Zelenskyy, according to local media reports.

At the same time, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was also in Kyiv. At a recent news conference, he spoke with Zelenskyy and said the postwar guarantees would consist of two distinct elements — further strengthening the Ukrainian army and deterrence commitments from the U.S. and other allies, including Canada, to prevent future aggression by Russia.

Carney praised Trump's desire to push for peace, but cautioned the allies need to be prepared for the postwar world.

"When that peace comes, we cannot simply trust and verify — we must deter and fortify," the prime minister said.

Obstacles to peace

One of the major stumbling blocks toward peace is the Kremlin's continued, outright refusal to accept U.S.-backed security guarantees.

In an English-language social media post last week, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia's security council and the former president, wrote that Russia has categorically stated there should be no NATO involvement in any potential peacekeeping force inside of Ukraine.

Medvedev insisted there's no need for postwar security guarantees.

Other Russian lawmakers, also last week, suggested Ukraine should follow the Second World War example of Finland, which was invaded by the Soviet Union, and simply ceded territory and became a neutral country, according to the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, which tracks political and military developments in regular reports.

Russia is demanding Ukraine cede Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk provinces in the south and east of the country.

Carney said it's not up to Russia to dictate Ukraine's future security arrangements.

Canada in strategic agreement with EU 

As well as support for continued armament of Ukraine, Canada has signed a strategic defence agreement with the European Union, which will facilitate joint purchases and production among allies, including Ukraine.

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At the time of the signing, drones were mentioned as a possible area of co-operation between Canada and Ukraine, given that country's stunning and innovative use of the remotely controlled technology.

Last week, the United States and Ukraine announced a $50-billion drone co-operation initiative, one of the largest strategic commitments between the two nations.

Because Ukraine needs every piece of military equipment at the front, the country prohibits defence exports to other countries.

Ukraine's Arms Monitor, an online digest that tracks equipment related to the war, reported last week that Ukrainian officials, under pressure from the domestic industry, are considering slightly relaxing the restriction, but only for the most trusted allies — likely NATO members — who have the capacity to safeguard sensitive technology.