moved:
That this committee take note of the situation in Ukraine.
Madam Chair, I will be sharing my time this evening with the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Canada has always been clear about our steadfast support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, from being the first western country to recognize Ukraine's independence to the deep partnership we have developed in the years since and to the expanded support our government has announced in recent days. Ukrainians have the right to determine their future. Canada, alongside our allies, will always stand firm in defence of that right.
When people elect a government, collectively choose a path forward and want to make progress, these democratic choices have to be respected, but right now that is not what Russia is doing. Russia is seeking confrontation.
Russia is trying to destabilize and provoke a sovereign democratic state.
This direct threat to the Ukrainian people's right to self-determination should be of concern not just to Ukraine and eastern Europe, but to all of us.
Russian actions are once again standing in direct opposition to democratic principles. These actions are calling into question the fundamental principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity enshrined in the UN charter. That is why we must show unity and resolve in standing with Ukraine. That is why Canada and its allies have been clear that any further incursion into Ukraine will provoke severe costs and serious consequences, including the imposition of coordinated sanctions. We will continue to be there to provide support to Ukraine.
In 2015, Canada launched Operation Unifier, a military training mission that has helped train about 33,000 members of the Ukrainian security forces. Last week, I authorized the extension and expansion of Operation Unifier. As part of this commitment, the Canadian Armed Forces is deploying 60 personnel to join the approximately 200 women and men already on the ground, with further capacity to increase the number of people up to 400. We are also sending additional support in the form of non-lethal equipment, intelligence sharing and help to combat cyber-attacks.
As previously announced, we are also providing a loan of up to $120 million to support Ukraine's economic resilience. We will provide up to $50 million to deliver development and humanitarian aid.
I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our teams who are working hard on these files. I would like to emphasize that our Minister of National Defence is currently in Ukraine, working with her counterparts, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs was recently there as well. Of course, the Deputy Prime Minister remains very involved in this file.
I also want to thank the members of the Canadian Armed Forces participating in Operation Unifier. I had the chance to meet them a few years ago when I was in Ukraine. They are doing an exemplary job.
Canada has a long history of standing up to bullies, but standing up to bullies does not mean that we want conflict. Let us be clear about the facts. NATO is no threat to Russia. It is a defensive alliance built on the free choice of its members to support each other in collective security. Ukraine is not provoking Russia or threatening its security.
In the days and weeks to come, we will continue coordinating closely with Ukraine, NATO allies and our other international partners to stand firm in support of Ukraine and to deter further Russian aggression. The fate of Ukraine matters to the world and to Canadians. I have made this very clear, including directly to President Zelenskyy. I have defended the rights of Ukrainians to choose their own future with organizations like the G7 and NATO in the past, and I will continue to do so. We are always stronger together, and we will not be intimidated.