Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday that Canada was imposing sanctions on 160 other Russian officials, in retaliation for Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Mr. Trudeau also announced that Canada was imposing new bans on the export of certain goods and technologies to Russia, with the aim of limiting that country’s ability to wage war in Ukraine.
The prime minister announced the new sanctions after a whirlwind trip to Brussels, where he addressed the European Parliament on Wednesday, before meeting other leaders of NATO and G7 member countries on Thursday.
This was Trudeau’s second visit to Europe this month, after Russian forces began invading Ukraine on February 24, posing Europe’s most serious security threat. and North America for generations.
This threat puts new pressure on the Canadian government to invest more in its armed forces. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says allies have agreed to present plans in June to rapidly increase military spending.
It could be difficult for the Liberals, however, who promised this week to invest in new social programs like drug insurance and dental care, in exchange for the support of the New Democratic Party in the House.
Earlier Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued an urgent plea for military aid to Prime Minister Trudeau and other NATO leaders, blaming them for not doing all they could to help his country.
“No-fly zone”
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has left Europe facing its greatest security threat since World War II, but has also left hundreds of civilians and soldiers dead in Ukraine, in addition to having displaced 10 million people since fighting began a month ago.
Mr. Zelensky on Thursday reiterated his demand that NATO impose a no-fly zone over Ukrainian airspace to protect its people from Russian bombs and missiles — a request that NATO’s secretary general already rejected.
In the text of his address published on his official website, Mr. Zelensky also chastised NATO members for not providing a clear response to his previous call or subsequent requests for fighter jets and tanks to reinforce his troops.
Mr Zelensky did not blame NATO for the war in his country, but his remarks suggested deep frustration at the apparent lack of political will among NATO members to provide Ukraine with all the necessary weapons to repel the forces of Russian President Vladimir Putin and avoid further deaths.
“Ukraine expects a lot, expects real action, real security guarantees, from those whose word is trusted and whose actions can keep the peace,” read the published remarks of Mr. Zelensky.
NATO “united”, says Trudeau
Arriving at the alliance’s headquarters on Thursday morning, Trudeau said NATO members were united in their condemnation of the “illegal and brutal invasion of a friendly democracy” in Ukraine. Trudeau also said members of the alliance were also united in their support for Ukrainians who fight for the values that underpin democracies.
Canada has provided military equipment and lethal aid to Ukraine, in addition to imposing economic sanctions targeting allies of Mr. Putin.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the military alliance would send more troops to eastern Europe to bolster its forces against Russia.