Canada chips in another $60M for Ukrainian F-16 training as U.S. aid remains gridlocked

Canada is cutting another cheque for $60 million to help train Ukrainian pilots to fly the F-16, Defence Minister Bill Blair announced Wednesday as allies gathered in Brussels ahead of this week's NATO ministerial meeting.

The contribution announced at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting follows the federal government's announcement last month of a $15 million donation to pay for civilian pilot instructors from Montreal-based Top Aces Inc.

The F-16s are being donated by Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands.

Canada does not operate the U.S.-manufactured warplane but they are used by Top Aces, a private company that offers a wide range of fighter jet instruction.

Blair said Wednesday the new funds will help Ukraine pay for critical F-16 supplies and equipment such as spare parts, weapons stations, avionics and ammunition.

«Canada is committed to deepening coordination and cooperation with allies and partners as we work together to strengthen our support for Ukraine's self-defence and protect the rules-based international order,» Blair said in a media statement.

For the second time this year, the United States is coming to a meeting of the UDCG with no additional funding or equipment commitments for Ukraine.

A $60 billion aid package for Ukraine is still hung up in the U.S. Congress. The Senate earlier this week passed a compromise bill that included funding for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

On Tuesday, U.S. President Joe Biden called on Congress to take up the legislation as soon as possible, warning that any delay would play into "[Russian President Vladimir] Putin's hands."

The Ukrainian contact group meeting is taking place ahead of a regularly scheduled gathering of NATO defence ministers.

In a recent interview, Blair