Canada’s plan to send firearms from its controversial buyback program to Ukraine has collapsed. The Defense Post reports that officials in Kyiv showed extremely limited interest, while Canadian authorities admitted most of the seized guns were unsuitable for combat.
Ottawa confirms the reversal
Canadian Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree’s office told Toronto Star on 25 September 2025 that the idea “was not a practical or effective way” to help Ukraine’s defense against Russia.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government has now formally ended the plan, which was originally introduced under PM Justin Trudeau.
How the plan began
The proposal emerged in late 2023 after Ottawa expanded its prohibited firearms list to more than 2,500 models.Owners of the weapons were required either to surrender them for compensation or have them deactivated. At the time, then-Defense Minister Bill Blair said Ukraine had shown interest in some of the guns.
Ottawa later pledged to work with the Ukrainian military to identify which firearms could be repurposed. That initiative collapsed after assessments found the “vast majority” were unfit for battle.
Support for Ukraine continues
Officials emphasized that the decision does not affect broader Canadian support for Ukraine. Since Russia’s invasion in 2022, Canada has provided approximately 22 billion Canadian dollars ($15.8 billion), including 6.5 billion dollars ($4.6 billion) in military aid.
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