Trudeau is meeting with Zelenskyy in Ukraine during surprise visit – National | 24CA News
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is assembly with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy throughout an unannounced go to to Kyiv to point out Canada’s help for the combat towards Russia.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland is with him on the journey, which started with a wreath-laying at a memorial wall to honour Ukrainians who’ve died whereas defending their homeland.
This is the second time Trudeau has made an unannounced go to to the embattled nation since Russia started its large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Trudeau final travelled to Ukraine simply over a yr in the past, the place he reopened the Canadian Embassy in Kyiv and met Zelenskyy in particular person for the primary time because the conflict started.
Trudeau and Zelenskyy additionally spent a while collectively simply final month on the margins of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, the place the Ukrainian president continued his marketing campaign to shore up help amongst western allies for the defence of his nation.
Some media retailers, together with The Canadian Press, have been made conscious of in the present day’s journey forward of time on the situation that it not be reported till it was made public, for safety causes.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits an exhibition of destroyed automobiles in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday June 10, 2023. (Valentyn Ogirenko/Pool through AP).
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits the Wall of Remembrance to pay tribute to killed Ukrainian troopers, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday June 10, 2023. (Valentyn Ogirenko/Pool through AP).
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lays a wreath on the memorial wall outdoors of St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Saturday, June 10, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn.
As of early Saturday morning, the Prime Minister’s Office had not printed its normal itinerary for Trudeau’s day.
Earlier Saturday, Britain’s defence ministry reported “significant Ukrainian operations” within the nation’s east and south since Thursday morning, with positive aspects in some areas.
The ministry reported combined outcomes from the Russian military, with some models holding floor “while others have pulled back in some disorder, amid increased reports of Russian casualties as they withdraw through their own minefields.”
The ministry additionally famous “unusually active” Russian airstrikes in southern Ukraine, the place it’s simpler for Moscow to fly planes.
Trudeau’s go to follows main dam collapse
Earlier this week, a hydroelectric dam on the Dnieper River ruptured, flooding a big a part of the entrance line in southern Ukraine and worsening the humanitarian scenario — together with the necessity for consuming water — in an space that was already present process shelling.
It stays unclear how the dam collapse occurred. Kyiv has accused Russia of blowing up the dam and its hydropower plant, which Russian forces managed. Moscow mentioned Ukraine did it.
Trudeau and Zelenskyy additionally spent a while collectively simply final month on the margins of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, the place the Ukrainian president continued his marketing campaign to shore up help amongst western allies for the defence of his nation.
Canada has joined different nations in condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime for the incursion, together with by financial sanctions.
Ottawa has additionally contributed greater than $8 billion to efforts associated to the conflict in Ukraine since final yr. That included launching a particular immigration program to permit Ukrainians to return to Canada rapidly with a brief work and research allow, as a substitute of going by the standard refugee system.
It additionally gave some $1 billion in navy help, together with the donation of eight Leopard 2 most important battle tanks to help the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal visited Toronto in April, when Trudeau introduced that Canada would offer help within the type of 1000’s of assault rifles, dozens of machine-guns and tens of millions of rounds of ammunition to assist the Ukrainian navy combat Russian invaders.
At the time, Shmyhal thanked Canada for its help but additionally pressured the necessity for extra.
Asked on the conclusion of the G7 summit in Hiroshima on May 21 what else Canada may do to assist, Trudeau mentioned: “We’re certainly not opposed to help in all sorts of different ways.”
Days later, Defence Minister Anita Anand introduced a crew of Canadian Armed Forces medical trainers serving to instruct Ukrainian personnel in Poland would enhance from seven to 12, and that Ottawa would donate 43 short-range missiles to Ukraine.
Canada has additionally just lately joined Latvia in delivering coaching to Ukrainian troopers being promoted to junior navy officers, constructing on a program that focuses on educating battlefield techniques.
During the G7 summit final month, Trudeau pressured that nations pushing for a negotiated ceasefire should acknowledge Russia is guilty for the battle and will finish issues by stopping its invasion.
“It is not a ceasefire that is needed. It is peace. And that peace can only be achieved if Russia decides to stop its ongoing invasion of a sovereign neighbour,” the prime minister mentioned.
The House of Commons overseas affairs committee took an identical view after its February go to to the area.
“The strategic consequences of allowing Russia to benefit from its aggression would far exceed the monetary costs associated with supporting Ukraine,” reads the committee’s April report.
“A frozen conflict would leave Ukraine facing constant threats and blackmail.”
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