Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has reminded Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that international sanctions against Russia must be a matter of principle.
Mr. Zelensky spoke on Twitter after the telephone conversation between the two men on Sunday. It was their first meeting since the Canadian government’s controversial decision to send repaired parts of a Russian gas pipeline to Germany.
In a short statement, he said he thanked Mr. Trudeau for Canada’s significant support in the defense of his country. He also stressed the importance of maintaining sanctions against Russia.
“After the terrorist attacks on Vinnytsia, Mykolaiv, Chassiv Yar, etc., the pressure must be increased, not reduced,” Mr. Zelensky wrote.
The Ukrainian president had already described this decision as “absolutely unacceptable” earlier this week.
“The decision on the exception to the sanctions will be perceived in Moscow exclusively as a manifestation of weakness. It’s their logic,” he said.
The Prime Minister’s Office has yet to release an account of the conversation between Mr. Trudeau and Mr. Zelensky.
The measure has strained relations between the two countries.
The Liberal government decided to exempt six Siemens Energy turbines, which were repaired in Montreal, from the economic sanctions it imposed on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the decision to deliver the turbines was made so Canada could support its European allies who face energy crises as Russia restricts access to its oil and gas supplies.
In Ottawa, opposition MPs on Friday demanded that Liberal ministers explain the controversial decision during a special meeting of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development next week.
The Liberals have allowed Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson to answer questions.
Two demonstrations to denounce the sending of turbines to Europe took place Sunday afternoon in Ottawa and Montreal.