Justin Trudeau will help Ukraine in a monetary way, to begin with. The Canadian Prime Minister announced Friday the offer of a loan of 120 million dollars to the Ukrainian government, in order to help it to resist not only the military pressures, but also financial of the Russians. Canadian military aid could, however, follow.
“Russia seeks to destabilize Ukraine, including economically. This loan will help support Ukraine’s economic resilience,” said Justin Trudeau at a press conference on Friday.
Financial assistance was among the main demands made by the government of President Volodymyr Zelensky in Canada. Because the Russians are carrying out a vast offensive to destabilize Ukraine, explained Mr. Trudeau, beyond the more than 100,000 soldiers massed along the Ukrainian border and cyberattacks.
The loan will be for a maximum value of $120 million, through the Department of Global Affairs’ Sovereign Loans Programme. Ukraine received a first loan of 400 million over two years, in 2014-2015, following the revolution which led to a change of government, and these sums have since been repaid. In particular, the program can be used to strengthen financial markets in order to restore the confidence of local populations and the international community. The purchase of weapons, with these loans, is prohibited.
Prime Minister Trudeau also ruled that any Russian incursion into Ukraine would be punished by the West. On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden had confused and worried his Ukrainian counterpart by seeming to draw a distinction between a “minor incursion” and an “invasion”.
“We consider it important that the territorial integrity of Ukraine be respected. And any movement of Russian troops in Ukraine will be absolutely unacceptable and welcomed by a clear response from the international community, ”said Justin Trudeau.
Weapons and fights?
The government is also reportedly preparing to announce the extension of its mission to train the Ukrainian army. Some 200 Canadian soldiers have been on the ground since 2015, as part of Operation Unifier, which has been renewed many times and this time was due to end in March. According to Toronto Starthe Trudeau government also plans to provide the Ukrainian government with intelligence and cybersecurity assistance, as well as weapons and defensive equipment such as infrared night vision goggles.
Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly was in Ukraine earlier this week, where the government of President Volodymyr Zelensky asked her that Canada provide them with weapons to defend themselves against increasingly apprehended Russian aggression. The United States and the British have already promised to offer such help.
Members of the Canadian army’s special forces have also been deployed in Ukraine, revealed Global News this week.
Mr. Trudeau did not want to come forward about the possible shipment of weapons to the Ukrainians. “We know there are other things they need. We are looking at what more we can do and how we can help them even more. And we will surely have something else to say in the days and weeks to come, ”he simply commented.
The Prime Minister also did not want to predict whether the rules of engagement of the Canadian military in the field could allow combat operations. “I am not going to launch into hypotheses”, he decided, repeating that his government would continue to support the Ukrainian people as “a friend and ally”.
US/Russia negotiations
The Americans are also continuing diplomatic efforts to try to ease tensions and prevent a new Russian incursion.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken was also in Kiev on Wednesday before traveling to Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavror.
The latter would have repeated, according to the report offered by Secretary Blinken after the meeting, that Vladimir Putin is not planning an invasion of Ukraine. The head of American diplomacy, however, reiterated in turn that the United States and its allies are not convinced.
“We look at what is visible to everyone, and it is deeds and gestures and not words that make all the difference”, argued Secretary Blinken, on leaving the talks.
“If Russian military forces cross the Ukrainian border, regardless of their number, it is a new invasion. It will be followed by a rapid, severe and joint response from the United States and our partners and allies, ”he warned, adopting a firmer tone than his president on Wednesday.
The US secretary of state has agreed to respond to the Russians’ demands in writing, although he continues to reject them.
Russia is demanding that NATO undertake, by means of a treaty, not to include Ukraine within its alliance. President Putin believes that the country is still part of Russia’s “sphere of influence”. Moscow is also demanding that Western countries cease all military presence in Eastern Europe.
Western countries rejected these conditions. Canada supports Ukraine’s integration into NATO.
With Reuters