Prime Minister Justin Trudeau maintains that the Moscow sanctions waiver was necessary to expose Vladimir Putin’s false rhetoric in sending a turbine back to Europe for the supply of Russian natural gas.
The fact that the Trudeau government returned the first of six turbines after it was repaired in Montreal has caused exasperation in Ukraine.
Questioned on the subject Monday during a press briefing in Montreal, Mr. Trudeau argued that Russia was seeking to “blame” anyone other than itself for its “non-respect of the contracts they have” in matter of energy supply.
“What we have been able to demonstrate […]is that the only entity responsible for the challenges of the energy crisis that the world is facing is Vladimir Putin himself, ”he pleaded.
“We are not going to let him continue to use energy policy as a weapon of war,” he added alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who began a visit to Canada for a few days.
The latter affirmed that Germany is doing everything possible to get rid of its dependence on Moscow.
“We are going as fast as we can,” he said.
Mr. Trudeau pointed out that in the short term, Germany continues to need natural gas.
The Canadian Prime Minister also mentioned that the two leaders, in addition to discussing ways to support Ukraine, will discuss business opportunities during their visit to Montreal.
MM. Scholz and Trudeau are expected for a visit to the Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, financially supported by Ottawa, before flying to Toronto for a reception.
Olaf Scholz, who took over from Angela Merkel late last year, is also due to stop in Stephenville in western Newfoundland.
Justin Trudeau and his guest must also sign an agreement to supply Germany with Canadian green hydrogen.
During the Chancellor’s visit to the country, Ukraine took the opportunity to reiterate its criticism of the Trudeau government for having exempted Siemens Canada from the economic sanctions imposed on Russia. Canada allowed Siemens to repair turbines in Montreal before sending them back to Europe to enable the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to supply Germany with natural gas.
One turbine – out of a total of six – has been sent, but it remains stuck in Germany since Moscow refuses to take it back.