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Zelenskyy arrives in Canada for three-day visit focused on defense, energy, and a new partnership agreement

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska arrived in Canada on September 9, 2026, for a three-day official visit running through September 11. The program, announced by the office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, centers on deepening cooperation in defense, the economy, and energy, and includes stops in Calgary, Toronto, and North Bay.

Key points

  • Zelenskyy and Zelenska arrived in Canada on September 9, 2026, for a visit scheduled through September 11.
  • The visit was announced by the office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
  • The program focuses on deepening cooperation in defense, the economy, and energy.
  • Events are scheduled in Calgary, Toronto, and North Bay.
  • Zelenskyy is set to join an off-site meeting of the Canadian government and address its members.
  • A Ukrainian delegation has been formed to negotiate a Century Partnership Agreement between the two states.
  • The Canada trip follows a Norway visit for King Harald's funeral and talks on anti-ballistic weaponry.

What happened

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska arrived in Canada on September 9, 2026, beginning a three-day official visit that runs through September 11. The visit was announced by the office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. According to the announced program, the trip is focused on deepening Canadian-Ukrainian cooperation in defense, the economy, and energy. Zelenskyy and Zelenska are scheduled to attend events in Calgary, Toronto, and North Bay, and Zelenskyy is expected to take part in an off-site meeting of the Canadian government and address its members. A Ukrainian delegation has been formed to negotiate a Century Partnership Agreement between the two states. The Canadian leg comes immediately after Zelenskyy traveled to Norway to attend the funeral of King Harald and to hold talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

Background

Zelenskyy's previous visit to Canada took place in December 2024, on his way to the United States. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Ukraine in August of the year referenced in the reporting. The broader diplomatic push comes as Ukraine has publicly identified anti-ballistic capabilities as a weakness and is seeking to develop its own system, a topic Zelenskyy raised ahead of the Norway and Canada trips.