Trudeau says Putin responsible for ‘heinous war crimes’ throughout surprise go to to Ukraine – National

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says it is clear now that Russian President Vladimir Putin is chargeable for “heinous warfare crimes” following a surprise go to to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

The temporary trip was imagined to be kept underneath wraps till after Trudeau left Ukraine, however local officers and media broke the embargo Sunday morning.

Learn more: G7 leaders vow to wean off Russian power as Ukraine enters talks for ‘peace settlement’

During the go to, Trudeau met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and held a press conference within the Mariinskyi Palace, where he introduced additional navy help and funding helps for Ukraine as it defends its nation towards the Russian invasion.

“It's clear that Vladimir Putin is accountable for heinous struggle crimes. There have to be accountability,” Trudeau stated during an impassioned speech.

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“Canada will support Ukraine as you search justice on your people who Russia is killing and brutalizing.”

Throughout the press conference, Zelenskyy welcomed Trudeau as a “good good friend of our nation.”

“We're at present dealing with a full-fledged aggression of Russia and this can be a gesture of assist we highly recognize,” Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy said Canada was second only to the US within the “scope of assistance it’s been offering to Ukraine.”

The pair had also discussed weapons Ukraine was in want of and the economic needs of the country, Zelenskyy said.

“The rebuild of Ukraine requires swift, concise motion … and we’ve agreed on how one can flip that into actuality.”

Learn more: Russian official claims U.S. ‘straight participating’ in Ukraine battle as ‘Victory Day’ nears

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During the press conference, Trudeau announced Canada will provide a further $50 million in army assistance to Ukraine, together with 18 drone cameras, $15 million in high-resolution satellite imagery, and as much as $1 million in small arms and ammunition.

Trudeau also announced sanctions towards 40 further Russian individuals – 21 oligarchs and shut associates of the Russian regime and 19 individuals in the Russian defence sector. 5 entities would also be sanctioned for “offering oblique or direct support to the Russian army.”

Trudeau additionally pledged funding for de-mining operations as well as a $25 million grant to the World Food Programme for meals safety in Ukraine and a removal of all trade tariffs for Ukrainian imports coming into Canada for the following yr.

He stated Canada will even provide new funding for women’s organizations, human rights defenders and civil society groups.

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“We'll continue to do the work of being there for you with no matter we can, with no matter you need,” Trudeau said.

Trudeau was later asked by Ukrainian media if he was aware that in accordance with sanctions positioned on him by Putin, he wouldn't be allowed to enter Russia.

He stated: “If Vladimir Putin wants to proceed handing out sanctions he’s going to should sanction about 38 million Canadians earlier than we even begin to note,” Trudeau stated.

Trudeau tours destroyed Ukrainian cities

Ukrainian officers have not been shy in emphasizing both their want for more provides as well as their gratitude for Canadian help in offering weapons, money and diplomatic assist.

Now two-and-a-half months into Russia’s invasion of the nation, the majority of Russian forces have retreated into the contested eastern Donbas region, the place fighting has intensified.

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Many count on Putin to stage a warning to the West to not intervene during a Red Square speech in Moscow on Monday marking the World Struggle Two commemoration generally known as “Victory Day.”

Trudeau spoke of the symbolism of the day which commemorated when the Allies “conquered fascism.”

“What Vladimir Putin is doing today, these previous weeks, brings disgrace on the hundreds of thousands of individuals, on the tens of millions of Russians who sacrificed in the title of freedom. That's Putin’s legacy.”

Trudeau toured the town of Irpin, simply outside Kyiv, which was heavily bombarded by Russian shelling throughout the advance on the capital. He also visited Bucha, the place retreating Russian forces in March left behind a path of horrific brutality and struggling that rapidly spurred accusations of struggle crimes.

His security convoy included greater than 20 vehicles.

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Trudeau stated he had “witnessed first-hand the brutality of Russia’s unlawful battle” and said Russian President Vladimir Putin must face consequences for committing war crimes.

“I additionally witnessed the resilience of Ukrainians as people rebuild, as individuals stood even outnumbered eight to 1 to defend not simply their properties but your entire city behind them of Kyiv,” Trudeau stated.

The Prime Minister then applauded Zelenskyy’s management all through the previous two months, calling him an “inspiration.”

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He also identified that Sunday was Mother’s Day in Canada and needed to express his “admiration and respect for all the mothers in Ukraine.”

Learn more: Ukraine wants extra weapons as war with Russia enters ‘very important’ phase: ambassador-designate

At the finish of his tackle, Trudeau mentioned: “At present we ship a powerful message to the world that Canada and our allies continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine,” before saying “Slava Ukraini.”

When requested if Canada might have executed extra to assist Ukraine, Zelenskyy reiterated a standard plea that the country was lacking heavy weapons and inspired the assembled media to “use the internet” to determine which international locations may present these weapons.

“We all know which countries have the technical capabilities and have the weapons that thankfully will not be used on the territory of these nations. Which can provide us with these weapons – we all know this.”

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He stated financial help was second to weapons in terms of needed assistance and that Canada had provided enough of that too, primarily via the C$1 billion in new mortgage assets by way of the Worldwide Monetary Fund and C$500 million in army support that was announced on Thursday.

Zelenskyy then went on to say that Canada was the “fourth country that we additionally can't ask extra from” – behind the three Baltic states of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia.

Throughout his go to, Trudeau and Zelenskyy participated in the G7 Leaders’ assembly, where leaders of the world’s seven most advanced economies vowed to wean their international locations off of Russian vitality and to maintain pushing to isolate the nation in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine.

The G7 leaders mentioned in a joint assertion that they plan to also “elevate” a marketing campaign against Russian elites who assist President Vladimir Putin.

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Speaking after the meeting on Russia’s nuclear threats, Trudeau stated: “No amount of irresponsible sabre rattling by Vladimir Putin will deter the G7 or NATO allies and allies of democracy all over the world in our resolve to stand with Ukraine and to face in opposition to Putin’s illegal and irresponsible invasion.”

Trudeau mentioned the world was extra determined to see Russia lose the conflict after witnessing the atrocities dedicated in cities such as Mariupol and Bucha and Putin had made some “profound miscalculations” in invading Ukraine.

“Firstly, he miscalculated deeply the courage, the resolve, the power of the Ukrainian people and of the Ukrainian leader. And secondly he vastly underestimated the willpower and the flexibility of countries world wide to face towards his actions and stand in support of our Ukrainian pals.”

Canadian embassy reopens in Kyiv

Hours earlier, Trudeau visited the Canadian embassy in Kyiv, the place he was joined by Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Overseas Affairs Melanie Joly and Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine Larisa Galadza to raise the Canadian flag once again.

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The Canadian government announced the closure of the embassy on February 12 due to considerations over a Russian invasion. The embassy first moved to the eastern city of Lviv after which to Poland.

Nevertheless, the flag-raising ceremony briefly went awry when the chosen flagpole’s mechanisms failed and the group had been compelled around the side of the constructing to try once more.

As it rose up the pole, Trudeau, Freeland and Joly applauded.

“This flag got here down on February 13 and we’re actually glad to be raising it again above the Canadian embassy,” Trudeau mentioned.

“Having our Canadian flag fly over the streets of Kyiv once once more is simply one other testomony to the power and solidarity of Canadians and Ukrainians and how we proceed to be with them.”

#BREAKING: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in Kyiv, the place he has simply introduced the reopening of the Canadian Embassy

"Having the Canadian flag fly over the streets of Kyiv once again is yet another testament to the power and solidarity of Canadians and Ukrainians” pic.twitter.com/ZfqlAlybQT

— Ashleigh Stewart (@Ash_Stewart_) Could 8, 2022

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Sadly, the primary try at elevating the flag ended in failure

Trudeau and co then resorted to another flagpole around the side of the embassy pic.twitter.com/6sM8j52FXA

— Ashleigh Stewart (@Ash_Stewart_) Might 8, 2022

On the conclusion of the ceremony he thanked the embassy’s safety guard, Sergii Maier, for staying at the embassy whereas it was closed. Maier, who has labored at the embassy for five years, said he was merely doing his job.

Embassy workers will resume diplomatic operations in Kyiv, as a part of a gradual restoring of Canada’s full diplomatic presence and services, an announcement later said. Nonetheless, till further notice, consular and immigration services will proceed to be supplied in Poland and different European cities.

Later, when he was asked through the press convention why it had taken so lengthy to re-open the Canadian embassy, Trudeau dodged the question, simply saying it was “an incredible honour” to re-open it after it had been closed for months.

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Trudeau’s visit got here on a historic day for Ukraine.

Might 8 is the country’s Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation, which commemorates the victims of the Second World Struggle. It comes on the eve of Russia’s so-called Victory Day.

Ukraine stopped celebrating Victory Day in 2015, after the invasion of the Donbas, when it switched the vacation to a day earlier to coincide with Victory in Europe Day, celebrated by the Allies to mark the tip of the struggle.

Learn more: Joly mum on Ukraine go to however says Canada’s ambassador will return when it is safe

Zelenskyy launched a strong black-and-white video on Sunday to mark the event, evaluating the Russian invasion of his nation to the struggle in opposition to fascism within the Second World Warfare.

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In the video, which spans quarter-hour, Zelenskyy stands outdoors a bombed apartment building in Borodyanka, close to Kyiv, and asks: “By no means once more? Try telling Ukraine that.”

De-mining focus for Ukraine

A few dozen members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces had been in attendance during the press conference between Trudeau and Zelenskyy, to receive commendations for his or her work on demining the nation.

Part of Trudeau’s new supports announced in Kyiv was funding for de-mining operations.

A kind of on hand to obtain a special medal for his demining work was a two-year-old Jack Russell Terrier named Patron. The de-mining dog found on-line fame during his work demining the town of Chernihiv.

Nevertheless, he didn’t appear to be notably fond of Trudeau – and reacted by barking loudly when the Canadian prime minister tried to step forward to cross on his personal congratulations.

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His handler Mykhailo Illiev told Global News earlier than the event that this was his first time without work because the battle started.

“We don’t have any time once we can loosen up,” he mentioned.

“Persons are coming back and we need to do our work. They want to rebuild their houses and we have to clear the territory.”

He mentioned he and Patron hadn’t got down to “be fashionable.”

“I am simply doing my work, what is needed for the folks. No one has a aim of getting an award,” he stated.

With files from International’s Amanda Connolly

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