Justin Trudeau has safely landed for a one-day trip to Kyiv, one of just a few leaders who has ventured into the Ukrainian capital in a high-risk show of solidarity.
Under heavy security, the prime minister flew overnight Saturday to spend the day Sunday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a visit meant to underscore Canada’s support for Ukraine and also flag to the world that Kyiv, at least, is not in Russian hands.
“The prime minister is in Ukraine to meet with President Zelenskyy and reaffirm Canada’s unwavering support for the Ukrainian people,” said a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
Trudeau could announce that Canada is poised to reopen its embassy in Kyiv after shutting it down and moving staff to neighboring Poland at the beginning of the invasion.
Trudeau has been under pressure to take both measures — an in-person visit to Kyiv and a reopening of the embassy.
Ukraine’s prime minister, Denys Shmyhal, has publicly pushed for Trudeau and his ministers to come to Ukraine, and he has emphasized that Kyiv has been safe enough to host other leaders. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and several European leaders have recently gone to Kyiv, along with other dignitaries.
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has also visited, but not President Joe Biden.
And while Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly has hinted for a couple of weeks that Trudeau was contemplating a visit, she said security was a major consideration, especially given recent airstrikes on Kyiv and Lviv.
Canada has also been talking to Ukrainian officials for several weeks about how to safely reopen its embassy there, and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland — who speaks frequently to Shmyhal — said in April it was an important gesture to make.
About 1.4 million people of Ukrainian descent live in Canada, and having an official Canadian presence in Kyiv would not only signal Canada’s support but be a way to bolster Canada’s efforts to help with humanitarian aid and refugees fleeing the dangerous parts of Ukraine.
The invasion is now in its 10th week, and observers fear May 9 may bring renewed aggression on the part of Russia. That’s the day Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to speak at a Victory Day parade marking the anniversary of Nazi Germany’s surrender in 1945.
Trudeau and his cabinet have been anxious to show Canada’s unequivocal support for Ukraine, sending billions in loans, aid and weapons, especially in recent weeks. Canada has also been active in Poland, helping with the flood of Ukrainian refugees spilling into that country and easing the way for thousands of them to come to Canada.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free)