Thank you.
Indeed, the Russian war machine is conducting numerous disinformation campaigns. Just for example, I will tell you about one that we recently saw in Ukraine. There was special messaging, especially through social media, addressed to Ukrainian soldiers to just put away their arms and go on the Russian side. They are specifically able to target people. Of course, it failed, but the Russian disinformation is spreading the word in Ukraine to disunite people, to spread fatigue, and we also see it in many countries and in our partners.
They especially use social media. They use these so-called “trolls”, so numerous thousands of accounts are spreading this disinformation and sharing this Russian narrative just to disunite people, to bring war fatigue and to try to undermine support for Ukraine.
I believe Russia understands that, first of all, they already failed with their so-called “special operation”. The only way that Russia can somehow at least hold the line and not be kicked out of Ukraine is to try to decrease support for Ukraine. That's why they are conducting these disinformation campaigns in all the countries and among our partners.
However, you need to also realize that in parallel, Russia just adopted a new budget for 2024. They have record-high defence spending, which increased from the previous year by 30%. Around 39% of all the budget spending in Russia for the next year will go to the military, the defence sector and law enforcement. Russia is putting in huge, huge amounts of money for its defence and law enforcement, over approximately $200 billion Canadian.
In parallel, if they use this disinformation, what we all can do is spread the message of unity. All the steps to support Ukraine, all of the statements, are now very important for the people of Ukraine, because for them, understanding that there is strong backing for Ukraine from our partners is important. It is also to explain to people that in Ukraine, we are not only fighting for our territory but also protecting the eastern flank of NATO. The security of Canada and all of the NATO alliance is on its unity and collective security. We are now protecting one of the borders of NATO.