The nominee for Ukraine’s ambassador to Canada says the “best” way to ensure the safety of diplomats returning to Kyiv is to increase military aid to the country.
Speaking to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Yulia Kovaliv cited Russia’s recent missile strike on a civilian building in central Kyiv that killed a journalist during a visit by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as an example of the unpredictability of Russian force. .
“Increased military aid is the best guarantee that can be given today,” she told lawmakers on Monday, answering a question in French about what security concerns Canada should be aware of before sending it back. representatives.
Of course, ensuring diplomatic relations and having people on the ground is important for further work, but I would like to say that we are now in very close cooperation and contact with [Global Affairs Canada] and working here on earth. ”
Kovaliv’s comments come as the Canadian government faces pressure to reopen its embassy in Kyiv, which closed on February 12 just weeks before Russia’s invasion.
Canadian diplomatic staff remain in Poland.
Foreign Secretary Melanie Jolie told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week that Ottawa was considering “different scenarios” for reopening its embassy in the “coming days, next weeks.”
The United Kingdom, France, Italy, the United States and others have said they intend to resume their diplomacy immediately.
Kovaliv praised Canada’s military and economic support for Ukraine so far, including the recent supply of heavy artillery and ammunition to Ukraine.
However, she said more needed to be done as the war continued.
“I would like us all to have a common understanding, and financial and military aid must flow more and more urgently to Ukraine as the war escalates,” she said.
“Every delivery of military support saves not only Ukraine and serves not only to protect Ukraine and its territory, but also to protect security in Europe and global security.
The government has set aside $ 500 million in the spring budget to provide enhanced military assistance to Ukraine after providing $ 118 million worth of equipment since January.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday that Canada will continue to do “everything we can” to support Ukraine, including providing more weapons or humanitarian aid.
“We are with Ukraine because the struggle they are waging against Putin’s illegal war is a struggle for the values and stability that underpin Canada and so many democracies like it,” he told a news conference in Windsor, Ont.
With a file from The Canadian Press.
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