2023-09-22 21:05:00
Trudeau receives Zelensky
Russia and Ukraine
Trudeau announces aid to Ukraine worth 650 million Canadian dollars over three years
Published on: September 23, 2023: 01:05 AM GST Last updated: September 23, 2023: 01:17 AM GST
The Ukrainian president met on Friday with his ally, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who pledged to provide additional aid to the war-torn country, on Volodymyr Zelensky’s third stop on a tour aimed at strengthening international support for his country.
Zelensky, who arrived late Thursday in Ottawa, delivered a speech before the United Nations earlier this week and stopped in Washington on Thursday for meetings with the US Congress and President Joe Biden, who promised to deliver American tanks soon to strengthen Ukraine’s arsenal.
Canada has the second largest community of Ukrainians, and Zelensky, in a speech before Parliament, expressed his thanks for the support provided to Kiev since the outbreak of war with Russia in February 2022.
“When we call on the world to support us, it is not just about an ordinary conflict, it is about saving the lives of millions of people – our salvation in the literal sense,” he said.
He added that Canada “has always defended justice, and I had no doubt that you stood by freedom and justice when Russia launched an all-out war against Ukraine. Thank you.”
Zelensky concluded his speech with an indigenous phrase shared with him by Canada’s Governor General Mary Simon, which roughly translates to: “Don’t give up, stay strong against all odds.”
For his part, Trudeau pledged to continue Canada’s “steadfast support” for Kiev, and on Friday announced additional aid worth 650 million Canadian dollars over three years.
The aid includes 50 armored vehicles and training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets, in addition to the $6.6 billion (Canadian $8.9 billion) previously provided by Ottawa.
“History will judge us on how we defend democratic values,” Trudeau told Parliament. “Ukraine is a top priority in this great challenge we face in the 21st century.”
He added, “We will be with you and all the heroes of this valiant battle as long as necessary.”
Zelensky is scheduled to later travel with Trudeau to Toronto to hold meetings with businessmen and members of the Ukrainian-Canadian community.
With the decline in interest in the Ukrainian issue among the ranks of the Republican Party in Washington and signs of fatigue with this war in Europe, Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said that she is concerned about the strength of support for Kiev.
“Am I concerned about whether the world and our allies will continue to provide unwavering support,” she told CBC Public Radio on Thursday. “Of course I’m concerned. We have to work hard to maintain that support, to maintain this alliance.”
“Strengthening the spine”
The value of Canadian military aid to Ukraine has so far exceeded $1.3 billion, including Leopard 2 tanks, air defense systems, artillery, anti-tank weapons, drones and other equipment. It also trained more than 36,000 Ukrainian soldiers.
“If we can play a role in strengthening the backbones of some of our other friends and allies, we will be happy to do so as well,” Freeland said.
On Thursday, Zelensky noticed in the United States a decline in political support for his country’s demands to be supplied with more weapons.
“We are with you and we will stay with you,” Biden told Zelensky at the White House.
Zelensky praised the pledge to provide more American weapons, including air defense systems and the rapid delivery of tanks.
But behind the formalities of handshakes and displays of solidarity in the Oval Office, Zelensky’s second wartime trip to Washington turned out to be much more difficult than his first.
He received a hero’s welcome when he visited the country in December, but this time he made strenuous efforts in his closed meetings in the US Congress to try to overcome Republican dissatisfaction with the war and its expenses.
Republicans are threatening to obstruct the approval of a new aid package worth $24 billion for Ukraine requested by the Democratic President, and the package is now stuck in a bitter battle over spending that may lead to the closure of American government institutions.
So far, Congress has approved $100 billion in aid, including $43 billion for weapons.
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