Zelenskyy arrives in Canada to shore up support amid Russian attacks
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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Calgary, Canada, late on September 9 to shore up support from allies amid Russian drone and missile attacks on Kyiv and other cities. He is set to attend events in Calgary, Toronto, and North Bay, and meet with Canadian cabinet members in Banff. The visit comes as overnight Ukrainian drones struck Russia's Caspian Sea port of Makhachkala, killing one person.
Key Facts
- Zelenskyy arrived in Calgary late on September 9 after visiting Norway for King Harald V's funeral and talks on air defense support.
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the visit will focus on deepening defense, economic, and energy cooperation.
- Overnight Ukrainian drones struck the Russian Caspian Sea port of Makhachkala in Daghestan, killing one person and injuring two in the Voronezh region.
- Russian air strikes hit the southern Ukrainian port city of Mykolayiv, killing four and injuring 19, according to acting regional Governor Heorhiy Reshetilov.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone with US President Donald Trump on September 8, a conversation the Kremlin described as 'constructive and quite frank.'
Zelenskyy's Canada Visit
Zelenskyy and his wife, Olena Zelenska, are set to attend events in Calgary, Toronto, and North Bay, as well as a meeting with Canadian cabinet members in Banff, Alberta. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement on September 9 that the visit will focus on shared priorities including deepening defense, economic, and energy cooperation. The statement added that Canada remains steadfast in its commitment to support Ukraine's defense, recovery, and reconstruction. On his way to Canada, Zelenskyy made a stopover in Iceland, where he met with Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir to discuss protecting Ukraine's energy infrastructure and strengthening air defenses.
Russian Attacks and Ukrainian Strikes
Moscow has stepped up its air war in recent months, using ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones that have taken advantage of Ukraine's dwindling air defenses. The attacks have targeted Ukraine's power grid ahead of the upcoming winter in what appears to be part of a campaign to demoralize civilians after more than four years of war. Overnight Ukrainian drones struck the Russian Caspian Sea port of Makhachkala in Daghestan, and another drone attack in the Voronezh region left one person dead and two injured. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that 448 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight. Russian air strikes hit the southern Ukrainian port city of Mykolayiv as well as civilian and industrial infrastructure in the region, killing four and injuring 19, acting regional Governor Heorhiy Reshetilov said on Telegram.
Diplomatic Moves
After months of stalled talks on ending the conflict, hopes have been raised by a flurry of diplomatic moves. Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone with US President Donald Trump on September 8, a conversation that the Kremlin described as 'constructive and quite frank.'
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