Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the tensions between Canada and the United States as "strange" during an interview with CBC News, comparing them to the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. In his visit focused on Ukrainian air defenses and winter preparations for the war’s fourth year, Zelenskyy highlighted a new strategic partnership agreement signed with Canada that spans 100 years, emphasizing mutual security cooperation despite the differences in scale and nature of conflicts faced by both sets of neighbors.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-12,
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Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the tension between Canada and the United States as "strange" during an interview with CBC News on Friday. He drew a comparison to Ukraine's ongoing conflict with neighboring Russia, which has been ongoing for four-and-a-half years, highlighting it as a stark contrast to the economic issues currently affecting Canada and the U.S. Zelenskyy stated that both nations have a duty to resolve their differences through constructive dialogue, emphasizing the danger of unresolved tensions between neighbors. He noted that while Ukraine and Russia face a deadly war, the disputes between Canada and the United States are primarily economic in nature.
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Leaning score -0.35 for article 8190 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-12
Zelenskyy describes Canada-U.S. tensions as 'strange,' draws comparison to Ukraine and Russia
Says Ottawa and Washington need to work out their differences
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday described the unfolding tension between Canada and the United States as a "strange" sight to behold, drawing a comparison to his own country's fight with neighbouring Russia.
In a wide-ranging, exclusive interview with CBC News, Zelenskyy described American threats to annex Canada as "dangerous" and said both countries have a duty to resolve their differences.
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countries → describe → differences
"Strange," the president told CBC News chief correspondent Adrienne Arsenault, speaking to the tension in North America.
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president → tell → America
"It's very dangerous [when] there are some problems between neighbours and we [Ukraine and Russia] are the example."
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we → be → neighbours
"I think that the United States and Canada, will have to have … very constructive dialogue.
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States → think → dialogue
They have to have it.
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They → have → it
[There's] no choice," he said.
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he → be → ?
Zelenskyy's remarks come at the end of a visit to Canada, which was focused on Ukrainian air defences and winter preparation as the war with Russia enters its fourth year.
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war → come → year
He spoke about Ukraine's new strategic partnership with Canada, efforts to revive peace talks with Moscow and his view on any potential face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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He → speak → Putin
100-year partnership with Canada
Canada and Ukraine signed a long-term strategic and political partnership on Thursday that lays the foundation for the construction of millions of drones to defend both countries.
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that → sign → countries
The declaration established a 100-year partnership that stretches across defence and security, trade and investment, as well as energy and critical minerals.
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that → establish → defence
On Friday, Zelenskyy said the length of the deal with Canada, one of Ukraine's most vocal supporters in the war, was chosen as a symbolic gesture.
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length → say → gesture
"It's about roots," he said.
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he → say → roots
"It says that we will be together for a long period of time.
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we → say → time
Our children and our grandchildren, we will work together.
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we → work → ?
We will share the experience of security [and] a lot of different things."
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We → share → things
Zelenskyy's visit to Canada came not only as the relationship between Canada and the U.S. hit another low, but as the Trump administration renews its push to end Russia's war in Ukraine.
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administration → come → Ukraine
After U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner discussed potential proposals to end the war during visits to Moscow and Kyiv, Trump said the Russian leader wanted to make a deal.
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leader → discuss → deal
Canada, Ukraine forge 100-year pact built on drones and defence
Ukraine has been trying to bring the war to Russia.
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Ukraine → forge → Russia
More Russians are beginning to feel it
But on Friday, Zelenskyy expressed doubts the Kremlin is interested in ending the war.
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Kremlin → begin → war
He said he believes Russia maintains its goal of occupying Ukraine, but said he would sit face-to-face with Putin if trilateral negotiations came to fruition — though he said he doesn't expect any movement until after Russian parliamentary elections on Sept. 20.
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he → say → Sept.
Better to sit with my family," he said of a possible meeting with the Russian president.
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he → sit → president
He described Putin as an "enemy," but said sitting down with an enemy "can bring us closer" to peace.
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sitting → describe → peace
Diplomatic efforts to end the war have been stalled for months, while both countries have escalated attacks on the other.
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countries → end → other
Moscow has continued its bombardment of Ukrainian cities, while Kyiv has intensified its strikes inside Russia in an effort to reduce its economic ability to continue with the war.
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Kyiv → continue → war
It can't be so because [there's been] so many human losses.
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It → be → ?
It stopped being win-win at the first day of this war between us," Zelenskyy said.
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Zelenskyy → stop → us
