During a joint press conference, the Prime Minister of Canada quickly turned his attention to Vladimir Putin and once again blamed him for war crimes.
” It is clear that Vladimir Putin is responsible for heinous war crimes. »
Canada, he added, will support Ukraine in its quest for justice and accountability.
eliciting a form of Recognizing the courage and skills of the Ukrainian people
the Prime Minister announced the gradual reopening of the Canadian Embassy in Kyiv.
Earlier in the day, he greeted Ambassador Larisa Galadza upon her arrival and witnessed the maple leaf flag being raised over the Canadian Embassy.
Accompanied by this unexpected visit by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, the Prime Minister also took the opportunity to announce an increase in Canadian aid to Ukraine.
On the military side, Ottawa will provide an additional $50 million in aid. This final tranche of aid includes the deployment of drone cameras, satellite imaging technology, munitions and financial support for demining operations.
Celine Galipeau’s report
Photo: Associated Press
Justin Trudeau also announced that he would lift tariffs on Ukrainian imports and pay $25 million to the World Food Program to address food insecurity in the country.
When asked if this help was too late, the Ukrainian leader simply said that time had been wasted in the negotiations.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy nevertheless expressed his gratitude for Canada’s $1.5 billion in aid, the largest after that of the United States.
In addition to these relief measures, Ottawa will impose sanctions on 40 other individuals and five Russian companies. According to the Prime Minister, this is the case Oligarchs, close allies of the regime and the defense sector, all accomplices in Vladimir Putin’s war
.
In Kyiv, Justin Trudeau reiterated Canada’s support for Ukraine.
Photo: dpa via getty images / SERGEI SUPINSKY
Other economic sanctions have also been telegraphed by Ottawa and its G7 allies. The leaders of the seven countries, who met via video conference on Sunday, announced that they would ban or gradually reduce their imports of Russian oil.
” Putin made a serious miscalculation: he underestimated the resilience and courage of the Ukrainians. »
This meeting, held to mark the worldwide commemoration of the Allied victory over Nazi Germany on May 8, 1945, was particularly symbolic in the eyes of Justin Trudeau.
The latter believes that this is the case more important than ever
to stand up against Putin’s illegal war, defend democracy, human rights and international law
.
” On this anniversary of Victory in Europe, Vladimir Putin shames the memory of the millions of Russians who fought and sacrificed to defeat fascism and secure freedom for Europe and the world. »
The Prime Minister claimed to have been a witness the full brutality of Russian aggression
on a previous visit to Irpin, a suburb of Kyiv. The city had been the scene of particularly fierce fighting in March when Russian troops attempted to storm the capital.
He also went to Boucha, the scene of another massacre attributed to Russian forces.
A secret visit
For security reasons, the preparation of this visit was shrouded in the utmost secrecy. The media does not have access to specific locations that Mr. Trudeau and his entourage have visited. However, photos of the Prime Minister’s visit to Irpin were posted on Twitter by the city’s mayor.
This image, provided by the Irpin Mayor’s Office, shows Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaking to Mayor Oleksandr Markushin during a surprise visit on Sunday.
Photo: Associated Press
This visit took place on the same day that Russian missiles bombed the port city of Odessa in the south of the country and heavy fighting was taking place in the east of the country, particularly around Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city.
In March, Mr. Trudeau traveled to Warsaw, Poland, where he announced the imposition of sanctions on Russian oligarchs as a result of punitive measures taken after the Russian army invaded Ukraine.
Several other leaders have traveled to Ukraine in solidarity since the conflict erupted, including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also visited the country.
The First Lady of the United States, Jill Biden, also made an unannounced visit to Ukraine on Sunday and said she would come to celebrate Mother’s Day. She met her Ukrainian counterpart Olena Zelenska near the Slovakian border.
