“Threat is real” of Russian forces invading Ukraine, MPs said

OTTAWA-The Canadian government on Thursday painted a grim picture of the looming risk of further Russian invasion of Ukraine and the bloody conflict that could follow, saying “the threat is real.”

Russia has stationed a third of its land forces around Ukraine’s borders and in Belarus with no explanation as to why, is conducting an aggressive disinformation and propaganda campaign, and is making “legally binding” security demands that NATO is unable to comply with as a result of his own defense. treaty, senior government officials told MPs.

During a troop build-up in February 2021, Russia justified its military action at the Ukrainian border as “exercises”, but now President Vladimir Putin refuses to name his reason or intentions, officials said, after a Bloc Québécois MP accused Trudeau government accused him of taking an “alarmist”. position.

“The Russian position is that their troop movements within their own country are their own business,” said Deputy Foreign Minister Heidi Hulan.

Hulan said Ottawa is ready to respond to Russian action in Ukraine with economic sanctions targeting individuals and the Russian state.

Conservative MP Garnet Genuis has called on the government to target individuals linked to Putin by opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and to identify them publicly now.

“Why not name names and start the path of sanctions already to reinforce that deterrent effect?” asks Genuis.

“Mentioning names has the effect of indicating an intention,” Hulan replied. “Sense intent can provide an opportunity for money to be moved around … There is greater deterrence in ambiguity at this point.”

Assistant Deputy Minister Sandra McCardell said the options for sanctions included import and export bans, as well as measures to limit Russia’s ability to trade in foreign currency.

Foreign Minister Melanie Joly says Canada has approved 440 Russian individuals and entities since Russia first invaded Ukraine to seize the Crimean peninsula in 2014.

Officials said these sanctions were the most “robust” taken by Western allies.

Michael Chong, Conservative Foreign Critic

calls it “confusing” that Canada did not grant Ukraine’s request for arms, but officials have defended Canada’s involvement in the training of Ukrainian forces over the past few years.

Stéphane Bergeron, BQ MP, said Canada, the US and other countries were “crying wolf” by painting the situation as appalling, citing comments by Ukrainian officials who said no invasion was imminent.

Liberal MP Rachel Bendayan said if Ukraine were to announce an invasion was imminent, “it would cause widespread panic” when its economy was already destabilized, even just the threat of one.

Canada has disclosed its own intentions directly to Russian authorities through the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, NATO and its embassy, ​​Hulan said.

The Canadian government has raised its travel warning to Ukraine at the highest level and urged Canadians who are there to leave while commercial options are available.

Canada and the US are discussing how natural gas can be supplied to Europe if Russia reduces or cuts off energy supplies in response to sanctions.

“There will definitely need to be international coordination if we get to the point where that kind of support is needed,” McCardell said.