“If we value democratic government, if we value the concept of territorial integrity, if we value state sovereignty, then we see Ukraine’s fight as part of a broader fight in defence of those principles,” said Anand, News.Az reports, citing foreign media.
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In front of Ukrainian ambassador Andrii Plakhotniuk and students at the University of Ottawa, Anand announced the renewal of Operation Unifier, a military training mission initially launched in 2014, promising $2 billion for the program.
This adds up to a total of $25 billion of support from Canada to Ukraine over the last four years.
“Furthermore, Canada will be imposing sanctions on 21 individuals and 53 entities, as well as 100 vessels from Russia’s shadow fleet, under the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations,” according to a press release from the Department of National Defence.
“Canada is also lowering its price cap for Russian crude oil from US$47.60 to US$44.10 per barrel.”
Continuing to stand by Ukraine is crucial, according to Anand, for asserting the rule of international law.
“Putin cannot redraw maps at will. Geography is not a matter that dictators can decide,” Anand said.
Canada is not the only country marking the anniversary with a show of support for Ukraine.
More than a dozen senior European officials went to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and pay tribute to fallen Ukrainian soldiers, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
Earlier today, Zelenskyy addressed the Ukrainian people in a video uploaded to YouTube, praising the strength and resilience of the Ukrainian armed forces.
