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[text/observer network qi qian] on september 3rd local time, ukrainian president zelenskyy spoke with canadian prime minister trudeau, calling on canada to provide more air defense systems and armored vehicles, and authorizing the ukrainian army to use western weapons to strike russian military targets deep inside the country. according to reuters and russia today (rt), on the same day, the ukrainian government underwent a major reorganization, and several ministers, including the minister of strategic industries, resigned.

zelensky posted a message on the social media platform x that day, saying that he had a phone call with trudeau to discuss the latest developments in the russia-ukraine conflict and defense cooperation between the two countries, and outlined the current needs of the ukrainian defense forces, including additional air defense systems and armored vehicles.

he wrote that the two also focused on cooperation on drones.he urged trudeau to step up his advocacy among partners to give ukraine the "authority and necessary means" to carry out strikes against military targets in russia.

in a statement, the canadian prime minister's office said trudeau told zelenskiy during the call that russia's attack "further reinforced global solidarity" and that canada was "determined to support ukraine in upcoming international engagements."

according to reports, as a nato member, canada is one of the countries with the largest ukrainian expatriates in the world. since the outbreak of the russian-ukrainian conflict in 2022, canada has been providing military and financial assistance to ukraine.

in addition, zelensky revealed that the two also discussed a meeting on the release of prisoners to be hosted by canada. trudeau's office said canada will host this foreign ministerial-level meeting. reuters said that this meeting is a follow-up to the "ukrainian peace summit" held in switzerland in june this year. a canadian source familiar with the matter said that the meeting is most likely to be held in october.

later, zelensky tweeted that he had again discussed in depth the use of air defense systems at a ministerial meeting held that day.

he said ukraine will continue to work with all partners to ensure stronger support for ukraine's defense, especially long-range defense systems. "this is one of the key issues in this war. ensuring our long-range capabilities and our partners' approval for our use of long-range artillery shells and missiles is crucial to us and will help to truly and justly end this war."

in recent months, zelensky has been lobbying the united states and western countries to allow the ukrainian army to use western weapons to attack military targets in russia.

although the tone of many countries in the us and western camp has loosened, they have not yet authorized the ukrainian army to launch long-range strikes against russia. us president biden said in early june that the united states has authorized ukraine to use us weapons to strike russia, but only to targets 200 miles (about 322 kilometers) deep in russia.

on august 31, after his delegation met with senior us officials in washington, zelensky increased "pressure" on the united states and the west, demanding that the united states, britain, france and germany allow kiev to deploy western-supplied long-range weapons to strike military targets deep in russian territory. he also demanded more long-range ammunition and missiles.

according to reuters and rt, the ukrainian government once again carried out major reorganization on the 2nd local time.

ukrainian parliament speaker ruslan stefanchuk posted on facebook that strategic industries minister alexander kamishin, who is responsible for weapons production, justice minister denis malyuska, environment minister ruslan strelitsa, deputy prime minister for european and euro-atlantic integration stefanishina, deputy prime minister and temporary minister of reintegration of the occupied territories vereschuk, and national assets fund head koval have all submitted their resignation letters.

according to the website of zelensky's office, rostislav shulma, deputy director of zelensky's office, was also fired on the same day.

zelensky said in a speech later: "autumn is very important for ukraine... to this end, we must strengthen some areas of the government and be prepared to adjust the composition of the government. there will also be changes in the presidential office." reuters said that since several ministers were dismissed or resigned earlier this year, at least five ministerial positions have been vacant, including important agricultural and infrastructure positions.

in response, david alacamia, a senior member of zelensky's party, the servant of the people party, said that the government will undergo a "major reorganization" and more than half of the ministers will be replaced. he said: "maybe tomorrow we will be fired, maybe the day after tomorrow we will be appointed again."

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