The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, praised at length on Friday Canada’s firm response to the Russian invasion, in front of a Canadian Parliament which is still united behind Ukraine in a context where fatigue is setting in among other allies.
“I thank you, Canada,” said the head of state dressed in khaki in French, provoking a shower of applause in a House of Commons packed to the brim with MPs, senators and guests, including several Ukrainian refugees. .
Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his gratitude to Canada, which stands “on the right side of history”. Canadian aid “has saved thousands of lives” since the Russian invasion began 575 days ago. He urges the country to continue to stand together with Ukraine until victory.
This is precisely what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised him. The latter continued to preach for “the territorial integrity of Ukraine”, a country whose entire eastern part has been occupied by Russia since February 2022. The Prime Minister announced the sending of 50 additional armored vehicles, which brings the total aid intended for Ukraine at more than 9 and a half billion dollars.
“Canadians stand alongside the Ukrainian people who are defending their freedom,” responded the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, Pierre Poilievre, in a press release. The Bloc Québécois and the New Democratic Party have also unambiguously affirmed their support for the Ukrainian cause.
President Zelensky did not receive such a consensual welcome in Washington the day before, where his political support is crumbling in the most right-wing fringe of the Republican Party. In Europe, Poland announced the end of arms deliveries to kyiv.
In front of journalists in Ottawa, the Ukrainian president downplayed this trend. He recalled that the United States is still one of his most loyal supporters, and accused Russia of wanting to “divide Europe” and the rest of the world with billions of investments.
Recognize the “genocide”
Before leaving the stage to hug Justin Trudeau, Volodymyr Zelensky insisted at length during his speech on presenting the occupation of Ukraine as a “genocide”. “Can we accept that our identity is erased? No,” he argued.
He reminded Canadian parliamentarians of the Holodomor, the great Ukrainian famine orchestrated by the Kremlin 90 years ago. “For Russia to never commit genocide in Ukraine again or try to do so, Moscow must lose once and for all. And Moscow will lose! » said Mr. Zelensky.
It is, according to him, “immoral” for countries to adopt a position of neutrality, a trap into which Canada has not fallen. “Canada’s leadership in sanctions with Russia has encouraged the world to follow its lead. »
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was the first to speak, reiterated that Canada will stand with Ukraine “as long as it takes.”
Canada all the way
After the members of the United Nations Security Council, the head of the Canadian government warned the members of Parliament against concluding a “false peace” which would in fact be “a compromise imposed by the aggressor” Russian.
“I have seen with my own eyes the destructive evil inflicted by Putin during my visits to Ukraine since the start of the war. I saw neighborhoods bombed, bridges reduced to steel ruins, as well as abandoned houses. I have also seen this pain on the faces of the citizens of your country,” Justin Trudeau testified.
I have seen with my own eyes the destructive evil inflicted by Putin during my visits to Ukraine since the start of the war. […] I have also seen this pain on the faces of the citizens of your country.
He announced the sending of 50 additional armored vehicles, such as medical evacuation vehicles, while specifying that they will be “built by Canadian workers, in London, Ontario”. Aid to Ukraine will thus be increased by $650 million over three years.
We also specify details of the Canadian aid already announced. On the menu: training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter planes, cameras for drones and delivery of anti-aircraft defense, in particular.
So far, Canada’s aid to Ukraine has amounted to $8.9 billion, including $1.8 billion in military aid. Ottawa has provided Kiev with air defense systems, artillery, armored vehicles and a handful of Leopard 2 tanks. Prime Minister Trudeau has indicated that he plans to lead an international coalition to to seize the assets of Russia’s central bank to pay the bill.
At a press briefing, the Prime Minister argued that “if Russia wins, Canadians, in their daily lives, in their grocery bills, in their future prospects, would suffer the consequences.”
End of tour in Toronto
The Ukrainian president began his visit to Canada, the first since the Russian invasion of his country in winter 2022, after a visit to the headquarters of the United Nations (UN), in New York, then to Washington. He was welcomed Thursday evening on the tarmac of the Ottawa airport by Mr. Trudeau, who was quick to reiterate Canada’s “unwavering support” in his conflict with Russia.
The Ukrainian president then met with Governor General Mary Simon on Friday morning, before traveling to Parliament Hill under heavy police escort. The Ukrainian president met his Canadian counterpart for a bilateral meeting, then during another meeting in which several ministers from the two countries took part.
Mr. Zelensky thanked him again by calling him by his first name, while apologizing for not speaking French. He promised to return to Canada with his children once victory was achieved. Outside parliament, a few dozen people waved Ukrainian flags and showed support for the visiting president. Ottawa is host to daily demonstrations in support of Ukraine, usually held in front of the Russian embassy.
Volodymyr Zelensky and Justin Trudeau then flew to Toronto as these lines were written. The two heads of government are scheduled to meet with entrepreneurs and members of the Canadian-Ukrainian community.
With Florence Morin-Martel, Marco Bélair-Cirino and The Canadian Press