Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is calling on Canada to contribute to a long-term peace process with Russia as the 10-month-old war enters a critical phase as winter approaches.
The Ukrainian leader expressed the wish in a pre-recorded video address broadcast Friday at an international security conference in Halifax, which was attended by Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand.
Mr Zelensky, whose country was invaded by Russia in February, said real peace will require agreement in 10 different areas. He notably spoke about the withdrawal of Russian forces, the release of prisoners and Ukraine’s nuclear, food and energy security.
President Zelensky told participants at the Halifax Forum on International Security that he expects Canada to lead in one of these areas.
Minister Anand, in her own address to the conference, touted the more than $1 billion in military aid Canada has provided to Ukraine since the start of this war.
She added that the Ukrainian army was winning the war and that Russian President Vladimir Putin had strengthened NATO unity.
“The determination of the Ukrainian people and of President Zelensky continues to inspire us all,” she said. The Ukrainian armed forces are motivated, disciplined and better trained, and they are winning. »
Russia is suffering increasing setbacks after nine months of fighting. It recently withdrew its troops from Kherson in southern Ukraine. However, it has continued its attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities, raising fears as winter approaches.
Warnings about power outages lasting several hours were issued on Friday. Attacks by Russia have cut off supplies to 40% of Ukraine’s population.
In addition, low temperatures add additional pressure on energy networks, according to Ukrenergo, the country’s energy transmission system operator.
“You have to prepare for the worst. We see that the enemy wants to destroy our electricity system in general, causing long blackouts,” Ukrenergo general manager Volodymyr Kudrytskyi told Ukrainian television.
“We have to be prepared for possible long cuts. For the moment, we are putting in place planned schedules so that the cuts are not very long. »
Kyiv, which is already facing a “huge electricity deficit”, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Between 1.5 and 2 million people, or half of the city’s population, are periodically plunged into darkness while the authorities take turns supplying the different neighborhoods with electricity.
“It’s a critical situation,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian and international investigators are continuing their search for alleged war crimes committed by Russian forces during the nearly seven-month occupation in the Kharkiv region.
Ukrainian police are said to have initiated more than 3,000 criminal cases against Russian troops.
Some of them relate to acts of torture and other atrocities committed by the Russians in the south of the Kherson region. Ukrainian officials said they are investigating more than 430 crimes and four alleged torture sites.
With the Associated Press