Thread by @Justin_Ling

I'm at the Halifax International Security Forum this weekend. Expect some livetweeting in this thread.

I'll be posting a few dispatches on bugeyedandshameless.com and putting some longer threads on Mastodon @[e-mail] #HFX2022

(pic: @HFXforum)

Petro Poroshenko, former Preisdent of Ukraine, is speaking to CBC in the press room. He's slamming this week's bombardment of Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

"We don't trade freedom for electricity."

Poroshenko, once an intense rival of Zelensky, is making Kyiv's wartime pitch: More "anti-aircraft, air-missile, anti-drone [systems]," he says.

Defence Minister Anita Anand is kicking things off at an opening press conference.

Just a couple of days ago, Ottawa pitched Halifax as their candidate for a new North American NATO innovation centre. globalnews.ca/news/9289423/h…

Asked about upgrading Canada's commitment to the NATO eFP in Latvia from a battlegroup to a brigade, Anand confirms it's still on track.

"We will be committing additional troops to that endeavour in Latvia."

I asked Anand about upping support to Ukraine, particularly when it comes to anti-air/missile/drone systems. Anand wouldn't commit to a position on supporting Poland's transfer of MiG-29 jets to Ukraine, but stressed Ottawa's support to Kyiv...

"We have had $500 million put on the table for the Ministry of Defense and me to spend in budget 2022. We spent that money in about three months," Anand said. "We just received another $500 million." Says she expects that money to go to equipment and gear in short order. #HFX2022

The Forum has made a particular effort this year to bring in Ukrainians to explain first-hand the cost of the war. Forum President Peter Van Praagh points out that the hotel where the conference is happening, the Westin, actually employees about a dozen Ukrainian refugees.