The building that houses the embassies of Australia and Canada in Kyiv on February 13. VALENTIN OGIRENKO / Reuters
Canada revealed on Friday that sends armored vehicles to Ukraine and is negotiating the reopening of the Canadian embassy in Kyiv as other countries resume operations on their diplomatic missions in the Ukrainian capital.
The Canadian government also revealed more details about the promised donation of heavy artillery to Ukraine, saying in a statement that it had already secretly delivered several M-777 howitzers from its own inventory.
The government did not specify how many were sent, but one official said the number was four. The Globe did not name the official because they were not authorized to discuss the matter in public.
The Ukrainian government wants foreign countries to reopen their own embassies in Kyiv now that Russian forces have backed down an attempt to seize the capital. Instead, Moscow is redoubled its efforts in southern and eastern Ukraine.
Sitting next to Ukrainian Finance Minister Sergei Marchenko at a press conference in Washington on Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Christia Freeland said Canada was actively discussing diplomatic return to Kyiv.
“We talk about it – and we hear our Ukrainian friends,” she said.
Employees of the Ukrainian embassy in Canada must return to work in Ukraine
Canada will send heavy artillery weapons to Ukraine, Trudeau promises
Ms. Freeland said she had met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmihal on Thursday night and that he had talked to her about the Ukrainian government’s efforts to restore life in the capital to normal.
“He talks about how the Ukrainian government is working very hard to make it possible for the embassies to return to Kyiv,” she said.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Friday that the United Kingdom will reopen its embassy in the city. The European Union and more than a dozen European countries have already reopened their diplomatic posts there.
Canada halted operations at its embassy in Kyiv on February 12, nearly two weeks before Russia’s full-scale attack on Ukraine began. A small group of other diplomats withdrew to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv. They continued to process immigration and visa applications until February 24, when everyone, including Ambassador Larisa Galadza, left the country.
Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie said in a statement Friday that Canada’s main concern for returning to Kyiv is security.
“Ensuring the safety of our staff is a top priority and we need to make sure that the security situation on the ground allows it,” she said.
Ms Jolie added that the reopening of the embassy would be “both a symbolic gesture to announce our strong and continued support for Ukraine and a means to continue to offer services to Canadians” in Ukraine.
The Canadian government gave little details about the armored vehicles sent, saying in a statement only that a “number” would be purchased and shipped. The government said the vehicles would be “commercially designed” armored vehicles, suggesting they would not be intended for offensive operations.
Ottawa said it was finalizing a contract for these vehicles, but did not disclose the supplier. A government official said the company would be based in Mississauga’s Roshel Inc. The Globe did not name the official because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
Roshel President Roman Shimonov declined to comment specifically on the government’s purchase, but said he received many international inquiries to buy his products to send to Ukraine. He said his vehicles were not intended for offensive operations, but rather for defensive purposes, such as medical evacuation.
Ms. Freeland, who was in Washington for the April meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, also called for Russia to be excluded from the Group of 20, one of the world’s largest economies working for further international economic and financial cooperation. She said the G20 could not work effectively with Russia as a member while Moscow attacked Ukraine.
“Russia has no place on the table of countries that have united to sustain global economic prosperity,” she said. “You can’t be a poacher and a game breeder at the same time.”
Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and European countries left the G20 in protest on Wednesday as Russian officials spoke.
Canada has pledged $ 900 million in military aid to Ukraine, although much of that amount remains unallocated. The country has supplied $ 110 million in military equipment since the start of the Russian attack in February and has allocated another $ 500 million to the federal budget for 2022, including heavy artillery.
The $ 900 million figure includes $ 338 million over several years for future training of the Ukrainian military through the Canadian operation Unifier, but that money remains unspent as the war in Ukraine continues.
Canada has also pledged $ 1.62 billion in loans to help Ukraine function during the war – $ 1 billion through the IMF and $ 620 million directly.
Our morning and evening newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a brief summary of the most important headlines of the day. Register today.
Add Comment