MOSCOW/KYIV/OTTAWA/BAKU – Russia will continue its special military operation until all objectives are achieved and there is currently no set deadline for when it will end, the Kremlin said on Friday.
"We must fulfill the goals that were set at the start of the special military operation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum currently being held in Russia's Far East city of Vladivostok.
It is important to ensure security and predictability for future generations, and to establish a new security architecture across the continent, he said.
READ MORE: Kremlin says Russia to continue special military operation in Ukraine
The spokesman added that there are no specific time limits regarding when the special operation should end.
"The timing is not important here," Peskov said, expressing hope however that this would be sooner rather than later.
Ukraine shoots down 27 Russian drones
Ukraine shot down 27 out of 44 Shahed-131 and Shahed-136 drones launched by Russia overnight, the Ukrainian Air Force said on Friday.
Eight drones have disappeared from the radars, while another one has flown in the direction of the Russia-held area in the Donetsk region. Several drones remained in the Ukrainian airspace as of Friday morning, it said in a post on social media Telegram.
Apart from the drones, Russia fired Kh-59 guided missiles and Kh-31P anti-radiation missiles at Ukraine.
In the attack, one person was killed and 30 others injured in the town of Pavlograd in the central Dnipropetrovsk region, said regional governor Sergii Lysak.
The air defense was also activated in the Kyiv region, but there were no casualties or damage to critical and housing infrastructure, according to the Kyiv Regional Military Administration.
Canadian military assistance for Ukraine
Canada will donate and transport 80,840 additional CRV-7 rocket motors and 1,300 warheads to Ukraine, Minister of National Defense Bill Blair said in a statement.
The additional rocket motors, which followed Canada's initial delivery of 2,160 CRV-7 rocket motors, are being prepared for shipment to Poland and will arrive in the coming months, according to the statement.
Canada will also be donating 970 surplus C6 machine guns and 10,500 surplus 9mm pistols from its inventory.
ALSO READ: Putin vows ‘worthy response’ to Ukraine's attack on border regions
In response to a specific request from Ukraine, Blair also announced that Canada will donate decommissioned chassis from 29 M113s and 64 Coyote LAVs which will be repurposed or used for spare parts by Ukraine.
Since 2022, Canada has committed 4.5 billion Canadian dollars ($3.3 billion) in military assistance to Ukraine.
Azerbaijan keen to resolve Russia-Ukraine conflict
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has expressed a willingness to participate in resolving the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, should such involvement be deemed necessary, AZERTAC news agency reported.
Speaking on Friday at the International Cernobbio Forum, Aliyev highlighted Azerbaijan's historical and diplomatic connections with both nations, underlining Azerbaijan's readiness to engage in mediation efforts.
"For a hypothetical possibility, it is possible," Aliyev said in response to a question from the forum's moderator. He pointed out that Azerbaijan, along with Russia and Ukraine, was part of the Soviet Union for 70 years, which has resulted in deep-rooted ties on both people-to-people and political levels.
READ MORE: Ukraine conflict has exposed deep-rooted issues
He however ruled out his country's participation in the anti-Russian sanctions campaign, maintaining a pragmatic approach to its relations with both countries.
Aliyev noted that while Azerbaijan has not sought to take a leading role in conflict mediation, it is prepared to step in if needed. "We have never initiated that. I know there are many others who want to be involved. But if our involvement is needed, we are ready," he added.
