Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Canada on Wednesday as Kyiv seeks additional international support to strengthen its air defenses and prepare for the coming winter amid continuing Russian missile and drone attacks.

Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Calgary on Thursday, with the two leaders expected to discuss defense, energy and economic cooperation, as well as Ukraine’s preparations for the winter months. Canada’s government said Zelenskyy’s September 9-11 visit would focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation and supporting Ukraine’s defense, recovery and reconstruction.

“ We will discuss how to strengthen our resilience, support people, and ensure that Ukraine has the capabilities it needs to defend itself,” Zelenskyy said in a social media post ahead of the talks.

A central issue for Kyiv is the urgent need for additional air-defense interceptors, particularly missiles for Patriot systems. Zelenskyy raised the issue during talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in Oslo on Wednesday, saying Ukraine was counting on further international assistance as it prepares for another difficult winter.

Ukraine has faced renewed waves of Russian missile and drone attacks in recent days. A Russian strike on Kyiv on Tuesday killed five people and injured dozens more, while damaging residential and public infrastructure, according to Ukrainian authorities. The attacks have reinforced Kyiv’s concerns over its ability to protect critical infrastructure and the electricity network as temperatures fall.

Zelenskyy’s Canadian visit follows a stop in Norway, where he attended the funeral of King Harald V and held talks with Støre on air defense, energy security and the development of the FREYJA anti-ballistic missile programme.

The FREYJA initiative is being developed by Ukraine together with Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The coalition aims to create an integrated European capability against ballistic and other aerial threats. Ukraine has said it wants an initial prototype ready in the first half of 2027.

During his Oslo visit, Zelenskyy also met with executives from major European defense companies, including Kongsberg, Saab, Thales, Leonardo and Diehl Defence, to coordinate the next steps of the programme. Ukrainian officials said the country is capable of developing and manufacturing the interceptor missile and launcher, while European partners would contribute critical components, including radars and sensors.

Canada, meanwhile, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ukraine. Carney’s government said the visit would also address the humanitarian cost of the war and deepen cooperation in the energy and economic sectors.

Zelenskyy is also expected to take part in meetings in Calgary, Toronto and North Bay during his visit, while addressing Canadian Cabinet members at a planning forum in Banff. First Lady Olena Zelenska is scheduled to meet Canadian philanthropists supporting Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president’s latest diplomatic tour comes as Kyiv seeks to shore up international military and energy support before winter, while pressing its allies to expand air-defense capabilities and accelerate development of longer-term European defense systems.

The immediate priority, however, remains securing enough interceptors and other air-defense assets to protect Ukraine’s cities and critical infrastructure from continued Russian aerial attacks. (ILKHA)