Keynote Speaker, Diane Francis
Ukraine deserves to be a member of NATO. Ukraine shares the values of freedom and democracy and is ready to defend them. Ukraine will not just be a beneficiary, but a powerful contributor to the security of the alliance. Ukraine will make NATO stronger.
Oleksandra Matviichuk, 2022 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
On May 31, the NATO Association of Canada (NAOC), in partnership with MriyaAid, the Canada-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce (CUCC), the Embassy of Ukraine in Canada, the Consulate General of Ukraine in Toronto, and the Munk School of Global Affairs, organized the one-day conference “Safeguarding Ukraine’s Future: Security Guarantees and Demining for Recovery and Reconstruction,” attended by over 150 participants, including members of the diplomatic community, industry professionals, NGOs, academics, and students.
Recording of the conference speeches & panels can be found here: Safeguarding Ukraine’s Future: Security Guarantees & Demining for Ukraine’s Recovery and Reconstruction
The conference opened with speeches by the Honourable Chair Emerita of NAOC, Kathryn E. Langley Hope and CEO and President Robert Baines, who emphasized the significant contributions made by Canada and allies in defending the rules-based international order and supporting Ukraine in protecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity, issues that should not be contested in the 21st century, but are.
In her video statement, the first keynote speaker of the conference, Nobel Peace Laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk, emphasized that financial assistance from Ukraine’s partners remains a key factor in ensuring economic stability, covering a significant portion of civilian budget expenditures while Ukraine’s own economy is directed toward financing defence. She stressed the importance of not only short-term support packages, but also assistance aligned with Ukraine’s medium- and long-term goals. Ukraine’s membership in NATO, she noted, would provide not only a security guarantee for Ukraine but also a meaningful contribution to the alliance.
The second keynote speaker, renowned journalist and longtime friend of Ukraine, Diane Francis, highlighted Europe’s increasing efforts to strengthen their defence capabilities and support Ukraine, crucial steps toward stopping Putin, potentially weakening Russia’s economy, and forcing a retreat. In recent years, Ukraine has emerged as a technological center of excellence, and with its smart, hard-working population, the country is well-positioned for economic recovery and long-term growth.
Three panels featuring speakers from Ukraine, Canada, and the United States explored key topics that included security guarantees for Ukraine, the investment environment during wartime and post-war reconstruction, and the critical need for demining as a prerequisite for both safe military operations and civilian life.
Securing the Foundation: NATO Membership and Intermediary Security Guarantees
The first panel, moderated by Robert Baines, featured distinguished participants, including Ukraine’s Ambassador to Canada, Her Excellency Yulia Kovaliv, Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, Dr. Balkan Devlen, and Dr. Alexander Lanoszka. The discussion focused on Ukraine’s prospects for NATO membership and explored additional security guarantees, such as “boots on the ground,” bilateral security agreements, and increased investment in Ukraine’s defence capabilities.
Much of the conversation centered on whether Ukraine’s accession to the North Atlantic Alliance could trigger Russian escalation. Ambassador Yuliya Kovaliv drew on the examples of Sweden and Finland, which joined NATO in 2023, yet triggered no substantial reaction from Russia’s side. Ambassador Kovaliv argued that the fear of escalation is inflated and often serves as a justification for Western hesitation in providing Ukraine with meaningful security guarantees
General Ben Hodges further strengthened this proposition by assuring the public that Russia will not resort to the use of nuclear weapons, as such a decision would offer no strategic or diplomatic advantage to the country.
The panelists also discussed the need for a more decisive Canadian and European response to Russian aggression. The West must halt the consumption of Russian fossil fuels, which is still continuing on a large scale. On this matter, Dr Balkan Devlen highlighted astonishing statistics: the European Union’s purchases of Russian oil and gas in the third year of the war surpassed the financial aid Europe sent to Ukraine. Despite vocally supporting Ukraine, the European Union continues to finance Russian aggression. The sales of oil and gas comprise about one-third of the Russian GDP, and NATO members are among the largest consumers. Halting this trade can inflict serious damage on the Russian economy. Economic consequences that touch all segments of the population can, in turn, decrease the support for Russian imperial expansion among the elites and the general population alike. The Trump administration is unlikely to lead the phasing out of NATO’s reliance on Russian fossil fuels. Hence, Canada and the EU must take charge.
The panelists also discussed another vital area of support for Ukraine – the confiscation of frozen Russian assets. This is necessary to both fund Ukraine’s war effort and pay for the reconstruction process. Once again, the speakers emphasized that Canada and the EU must act decisively and abstain from hesitating due to fear of Russian escalation.
The speakers also touched on Ukraine’s strengths, arguing that the country can strengthen the NATO alliance. General Ben Hodges refuted Trump’s recent characterization of Ukraine as a weak partner with no bargaining power. He highlighted that, despite strategic superiority on the battlefield, in 11 years of the war, Russia has not been able to achieve its battlefield objectives.
Despite all odds, Ukraine retained its sovereignty, and Russia has not achieved major territorial breakthroughs since the early stages of the full-scale invasion. The panelists also discussed Ukraine’s robust and innovative technological defence sector, from which NATO could learn the specifics of modern warfare.
Dr. Alexander Lanoszca expressed the opinion that NATO membership alone would not be sufficient to secure lasting peace for Ukraine. A comprehensive approach is necessary, including robust bilateral agreements that ensure continued political and military support. Additionally, a strong domestic defence industrial base is crucial to sustain Ukraine’s sovereignty and resilience. Integrating Ukraine into joint production efforts with Allied countries would further enhance its defence capabilities and economic stability.
Overall, the speakers underlined the need for the West to be decisive in defending the principles of international law – that is, to fight Russia until its decisive defeat. Other dictatorships are observing the Western response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They are reflecting on it when determining their own foreign policies. Lack of resistance against Russia can embolden them to act on their own expansionist, revanchist, and irredentist goals. NATO must showcase strength in defending Ukraine, as Russia continues to pose the greatest strategic threat to all members of the alliance.
Security Guarantees in Action: What Strong Security Agreements Mean for Business in Ukraine and Canadian Investors
The second panel, moderated by Mark Vytvytskyy, Vice President of CUCC, brought together key business sector professionals, including Roman Shimonov, Founder and CEO of Roshel; Zenon Potichny, President of CUCC; and Roman Kachur, Alternate Executive Director at the World Bank Group.
The discussion emphasized a multi-sectoral approach where security, infrastructure, energy independence, and entrepreneurship converge to create a resilient and investable Ukrainian economy.
The World Bank estimates Ukraine’s recovery costs between USD 500–750 billion (approx. CAD 680–1,020 billion) over the next decade, positioning it among the largest reconstruction efforts since WWII. Despite ongoing conflict, Ukraine is already mobilizing internal and external resources to rebuild critical infrastructure, stimulate local industries, and ensure economic stability.
Zenon Potichny outlined that several sectors have emerged as pillars of business opportunities in Ukraine, including agriculture, energy and renewables, critical minerals, defence and dual-use technology, infrastructure, and industrial logistics.
The Canadian Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce provides regular support to its members willing to work in Ukraine, organizes annual Rebuild Ukraine Conference to support bilateral business engagement, and offers a “Rebuild Ukraine Toolkit,” developed in partnership with Export Development Canada (EDC), designed to help Canadian SMEs navigate Ukraine’s legal, regulatory, and donor-subsidized business environments.
The panelists emphasized the urgent need for reforms to boost Ukraine’s economy, while the security risks will remain a fundamental concern for both people and businesses.
Roman Kachur, joining virtually from Washington D.C., said that rather than simply rebuilding what was destroyed, Ukraine must focus on building a new economy. In its current state, Ukraine’s economy needs to grow by 850 percent to reach EU GDP levels. Achieving this will require massive public and private investment. Ongoing discussions with international partners, including Canada, aim to increase this support. Kachur stressed that the necessary reforms must align with Ukraine’s EU integration path, requiring a comprehensive transformation of institutions and markets to meet European standards.
Canadian company Roshel Inc. has been delivering Senator armoured vehicles to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, and in February 2025, it signed an agreement with Ukrainian state-owned defence firm Ukroboronprom for the joint production of armored vehicles in Ukraine. Roman Shimonov shared several insights from this experience, emphasizing that working with people on the ground from day one allowed Roshel to see firsthand what works and what doesn’t. He stressed that agility and rapid adaptation are essential, as there is no room for failure when people’s lives are on the line. When asked what advice he would give to young CEOs considering work in Ukraine, Shimonov responded: “Don’t wait till the end of the war. Make the war end sooner,” urging others to identify opportunities that can be turned into action immediately.
Throughout the session, panelists agreed: Private sector actors must not wait for peace. Ukraine’s economy is open, adaptive, and already rebuilding. Government support, while important, must shift from procedural bureaucracy to practical facilitation.
Ukraine’s war-forced innovation is now becoming a global model for resilience, especially in defence, energy, and digital entrepreneurship. Canadian leadership, both governmental and private, will be instrumental in advancing this reconstruction, not only as an economic opportunity, but as a moral and strategic imperative.
Securing the Ground: Demining Ukraine for Recovery and Reconstruction
The third panel was moderated by Lesya Granger, CEO & Chair of Mriya Aid, a Canadian NGO specializing in mine action in Ukraine. It brought together Canadian and Ukrainian experts, including H.E. Egidijus Meilūnas, Ambassador of Lithuania to Canada, Yulia Koba, Senior Program Officer at Global Affairs Canada, Alexander Landry, former CAF and NATO, Tymur Pistriuha, Head of the Ukrainian Deminers Association, and Markian Kchik, UNOPS Operations Advisor.
Ambassador Meilunas opened the conversation with a keynote speech contextualizing mine action in Ukraine in the broader Allied efforts to achieve just and long-lasting peace within its borders. The International Demining Capability Coalition, launched in February 2024, now includes 23 countries, mostly EU and NATO members, as well as global partners like Taiwan. In just one year, member states have donated over €473 million in equipment to Ukraine, from armoured transport to mechanical demining vehicles and protective gear. A coalition fund launched in August 2024 aims to support long-term planning through 2034, with anticipated expenditures of over €700 million. Despite progress, combat demining remains significantly underfunded and requires more attention from international partners.
Meilūnas also underlined Lithuania’s unwavering support to Ukraine, noting that although a small country, it has provided aid to Ukraine worth over €1 billion — more than 1.5% of its GDP, half of which is military assistance. “Ukrainians are not only fighting for their own freedom — they are fighting for the freedom of all of us,” he said.
Markian Kchik, who joined the panel from Ukraine, highlighted Ukraine’s unique demining challenges, shaped by three key factors: the ongoing nature of the war, the ever-changing and complex explosive threats, and the rapid scale-up of Ukraine’s demining capabilities. He explained that Ukraine now conducts three types of mine action: tactical demining on the frontlines; operational demining within roughly 20 km of the front; and broader humanitarian clearance in civilian areas by services like the State Emergency Service and the State Special Transport Service.
Tymur Pistriuha, also joining from Ukraine, explained how mine action is structured in the country and clarified the national standards for certification. “In Ukraine, a mine action operator can be many types of entities — state agencies, military units, social or professional associations, commercial companies, NGOs, both international and domestic, like ours. What matters most is not the type of organization, but whether it has successfully passed the certification process to become a recognized national operator,” he noted.
Alexander Landry, while serving at NATO Allied Land Command, observed a dramatic shift in the nature of explosive threats. Traditional unexploded ordnance (UXO) is now being replaced by high-tech systems, including drones, sensor-based mines, and weapons enhanced by artificial intelligence. These technologies represent a fundamental transformation in modern warfare. They are often more precise, but also potentially more dispersed in their effects. He stressed that the scale and complexity of these evolving threats are growing exponentially, often outpacing the operational capacity of those working on the ground. This is particularly challenging given that mine action in Ukraine is occurring alongside ongoing active combat.
Yulia Koba, representing Global Affairs Canada’s Peace and Stabilization Operations Program (PSOPs), reaffirmed Canada’s long-term commitment to Ukraine’s mine action. Since 2022, Canada has contributed over $18 million to support Ukraine’s own capacity. Assistance is delivered through various channels — humanitarian aid, security cooperation, and development programming — and is coordinated through platforms such as the Sectoral Working Group on Humanitarian Demining and the new Centre for Humanitarian Demining in Ukraine.
Through PSOPs, Canada supports the training and equipping of state actors and NGOs working on risk education, surveys, and clearance. Canada’s Department of National Defence complements these efforts by assisting combat demining units. Targeted support since 2022 has included rapid-response funding for HALO Trust operations, donations of specialized equipment to Ukraine’s National Guard, and procurement of over $5 million in new gear paired with training. In 2023 and 2024, Canada committed an additional $65 million to mine action, including new bilateral funding under the Canada–Ukraine security partnership. These efforts ensure Ukraine is better equipped to clear its land, protect civilians, and rebuild safely.
The panel made clear: Demining is not just about removing explosives; it is about creating the conditions for life to return. Fields cannot be sown, homes cannot be rebuilt, and civilians cannot return safely until the land is cleared. As such, mine action is not a post-war task. It is a precondition for Ukraine’s recovery, resilience, and peace.
Exhibits
During the lunch break, attendees had the chance to attend two exhibits. One of them was an immersive virtual reality exhibition, “Living the War,” provided by the Consulate General of Ukraine in Toronto. Utilizing 360° photography, drone footage, and 3D modeling, the exhibition documents evidence of war crimes and destruction across affected regions. Through VR technology, global audiences can engage directly with the human and material impact of the conflict. “In 2014, Ukraine was not able to effectively communicate its message to the world, and that played a negative role in what happened with Crimea and the start of the war in Donbas. Today, after learning those hard lessons, Ukraine is a global leader in strategic communication, and this VR exhibition is a creative, modern way to make people truly feel and understand what we are going through,” commented Oleh Nikolenko, Consul General of Ukraine in Toronto.
A demining exhibit, created by Mark Paine, Board Director at Mriya Aid, underscored the critical importance of mine action — and the need to properly equip, train, and protect the deminers risking their lives to make Ukraine safe again. Most strikingly, the exhibit allowed visitors to pick up and examine real fragments of shrapnel collected from active minefields on the front lines in Ukraine. The jagged edges and heavy weight of these fragments gave spectators a visceral sense of the devastation caused by mine explosions — and the extreme danger faced by those working to eliminate these threats.
Another part of the exhibit showcased key pieces of protective equipment and tools used in the field, all produced by the Canadian company Med-Eng.
The conference offered attendees numerous ideas and opportunities for advocacy and future cooperation to promote lasting peace in Ukraine at the government, business, and community levels.
The NATO Association of Canada extends its sincere thanks to the generous sponsors whose support made this conference possible: Temerty Foundation (Gold Sponsor); Med-Eng (Silver Sponsor); Peterson Literary Fund (Silver Sponsor); Ukrainian Credit Union (Silver Sponsor); BCU Financial (Bronze Sponsor); Canada-Ukraine Foundation (Bronze Sponsor); Canadian Association of Crimean Tatars (Bronze Sponsor), as well as Honourable Donors. Kathryn E. Langley Hope and Trisha A. Langley Estate.
This report was authored by: Daria Synelnykova; Danylo Kotenko; Solomia Granger Chabursky; Olena Kryzhanivska
Conference Chair: Bogdana Torbina, Chief of Staff of the NATO Association of Canada
NATO Association of Canada Team
