Canada joined other G7 countries meeting in Japan on Friday to announce new sanctions against Russia, as well as new funding to guard against the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
The leaders of the G7 countries issued a joint statement reaffirming their support for Ukraine and announcing new sanctions against Russia.
“We renew our commitment to provide the financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support that Ukraine needs for as long as it takes,” the statement said. “We are imposing new sanctions and measures to increase the costs for Russia and those who support its war effort. »
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced new sanctions imposed by Canada in brief remarks to the media.
“Today, Canada is announcing more than 70 new sanctions focused on those who support Russia’s unlawful military action and who are complicit in human rights abuses,” he said. “Canada will continue to be there to support Ukraine and uphold the rules-based international order. »
The Prime Minister’s political entourage clarified that the sanctions applied to “17 individuals and 18 entities linked to Russian companies that supply military technology and know-how to the Russian armed forces, family members of on the list and members of the Kremlin elite”.
Sanctions will also be applied to 30 individuals and eight entities “involved in Russia’s ongoing human rights abuses, including the transfer and custody of Ukrainian children to Russia”.
In addition to new sanctions, the G7 countries also sent a strong message condemning Russia for its nuclear rhetoric and threats to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus. “Threats by Russia to use nuclear weapons, let alone any use of nuclear weapons by Russia, in the context of its aggression against Ukraine are inadmissible,” the joint statement on disarmament reads. nuclear.
Canada also announced $15 million to help the international community monitor and respond to North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction programs. He also announced an additional $4 million to the International Atomic Energy Agency to help verify and monitor Iran’s nuclear commitments.
Trudeau slams Italy over LGBTQ community rights
On Friday, Prime Minister Trudeau held bilateral meetings with leaders from Japan, Italy and France.
During his meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Trudeau spoke out against the Italian government’s position on the rights of members of the LGBTQ community. “Obviously, Canada is concerned about some of the positions that Italy has taken on LGBT rights,” Mr. Trudeau told Ms. Meloni at the start of the meeting on Friday morning, before adding: “but I I look forward to talking about it with you”.
The comments were made at the start of the meeting, before the media were asked to leave the room.
In March, gay rights activists denounced so-called homophobic measures by the far-right government of Giorgia Meloni to limit the recognition of parental rights to biological parents only in families with same-sex parents.
In a decision that would impact hundreds of families, the Italian government has asked the city of Milan to stop automatically registering both parents in same-sex couples on city records. It was the latest major city to continue the practice which was briefly adopted in Rome, Turin, Naples and elsewhere after the Italian High Court in 2016 made it easier for gay people to adopt a partner’s biological child.
A communication issued after the talks between Ms. Meloni and Mr. Trudeau said they exchanged views on the importance of protecting and defending human rights, including those of sexual minorities. Prime Minister Meloni reportedly said her government followed court rulings and did not deviate from previous administrations.