Zelensky, Trudeau discuss air defense support during phone call.

President Volodymyr Zelensky held a phone call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, discussing the situation on the front and defense cooperation, Zelensky said on Nov.

15. The conversation focused on strengthening Ukrainian air defenses, including mobile anti-drone fire groups, the president added. Ukraine is bracing itself for intensified Russian strikes on infrastructure during winter months, and allies have already pledged to strengthen the country's air defenses.

Zelensky thanked Trudeau for Canada's military and financial support, for its sanctions against Russia, and for Ottawa's proposal for a coalition of countries that would facilitate the return of Ukrainian children abducted to Russia. Canada made this proposal during the international peace formula talks in Malta in late October, the presidential office said. At least 19,500 Ukrainian children have been abducted or forcibly displaced by Russia's war, according to the Children of War database.

Canada has firmly supported Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, providing almost £7 billion in multifaceted assistance, including £1.8 billion in military aid.

Not backing Ukraine is 'disastrous for Slovak security,' says former defense minister One of Ukraine's worst fears appears to have come to pass: a key ally announced a halt to military aid. Slovakia, Ukraine's small eastern neighbor of 5.4 million people, gave generously from its Soviet-era arsenal and welcomed Ukrainian refugees after the full-scale war began.

Now, a recent electi...

News Editor

Martin Fornusek is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent. He has previously worked as a news content editor at the media company Newsmatics and is a contributor to Euromaidan Press. He also volunteers as an editor and translator at the Czech-language version of Ukrainer.

Martin studied at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, holding a bachelor's degree in security studies and history and a master's degree in conflict and democracy studies.