Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has arrived in Ukraine to meet with President Vladimir Zelensky.
Mr Trudeau visited Irpen, near Kyiv, on Sunday “to see with his own eyes all the horror the Russian occupiers caused”, according to a post on the city’s social media on Sunday.
A spokesman for the Canadian prime minister confirmed that he had been to Ukraine to meet with Zelensky.
US First Lady Jill Biden also made an unannounced trip to western Ukraine on Sunday, holding a surprise Mother’s Day meeting with First Lady Olena Zelenska as Russia pushes its criminal war in the eastern regions.
“I have just had the honor of meeting with the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, who came to Irpen to see with his own eyes all the horror that the Russian occupiers have caused to our city,” Alexander Markushin told his Telegram channel.
He posted a photo showing Trudeau standing in a street with dilapidated and burned-out apartment buildings in the background.
An image provided by Irpin City Hall also shows the Canadian Prime Minister walking with Mayor Alexander Markushin, on the right, in Irpin, which has been severely damaged by a Russian attack since the invasion.
Justin Trudeau is the last Western leader to visit Ukraine after Boris Johnson also paid a surprise visit to Kyiv last month in a show of solidarity in the nation’s fight against the Russian invasion.
Canadian officials said the prime minister would meet with Mr Zelensky and “reaffirmed Canada’s unwavering support for the Ukrainian people”.
President Zelensky also met with German Parliament Speaker Barbel Bass in Kyiv on Sunday to discuss additional defense assistance as well as sanctions against Russia, according to Zelensky’s press office.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also visited Ukraine in late April on a trip marred by a “shocking” Russian missile attack. Mr Guterres said that “the horrific scenario demonstrates something that is unfortunately always true: civilians always pay the highest price”.
Canada is on par with other Western countries that have imposed sanctions on Russia since launching its “special military operation” on February 24. Canada, a NATO member, has also highlighted more than $ 500 million (£ 405 million) in military aid to Ukraine in its 2022 budget, with additional support to support humanitarian missions in Ukraine and Poland.
G7 leaders, including Canada, are expected to meet Sunday before Russia’s Victory Day to discuss the response to Russia’s war in Ukraine and potential additional sanctions against Moscow.
The international community is closely following Russia’s actions on Victory Day, May 9, marking the country’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Some speculate that Russian President Vladimir Putin may use the day to officially declare war on Ukraine; Earlier, Putin called the war just a “special military operation.”
Add Comment