Trudeau says Putin accountable for ‘heinous war crimes’ during shock visit to Ukraine – National

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

The brief trip was presupposed to be kept beneath wraps till after Trudeau left Ukraine, but native officers and media broke the embargo Sunday morning.

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

During the go to, Trudeau met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and held a press conference in the Mariinskyi Palace, the place he introduced further army help and funding helps for Ukraine as it defends its nation against the Russian invasion.

“It is clear that Vladimir Putin is accountable for heinous battle crimes. There should be accountability,” Trudeau said during an impassioned speech.

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“Canada will assist Ukraine as you seek justice in your people that Russia is killing and brutalizing.”

In the course of the press conference, Zelenskyy welcomed Trudeau as a “good buddy of our country.”

“We are at the moment facing a full-fledged aggression of Russia and this is a gesture of help we highly appreciate,” Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy mentioned Canada was second solely to the US within the “scope of help it’s been providing to Ukraine.”

The pair had additionally mentioned weapons Ukraine was in need of and the financial needs of the country, Zelenskyy mentioned.

“The rebuild of Ukraine requires swift, concise motion … and we’ve agreed on easy methods to flip that into reality.”

Read more: Russian official claims U.S. ‘immediately participating’ in Ukraine struggle as ‘Victory Day’ nears

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During the press conference, Trudeau announced Canada will provide an additional $50 million in navy help to Ukraine, including 18 drone cameras, $15 million in high-resolution satellite imagery, and up to $1 million in small arms and ammunition.

Trudeau additionally announced sanctions in opposition to 40 further Russian people – 21 oligarchs and close associates of the Russian regime and 19 people in the Russian defence sector. Five entities would also be sanctioned for “offering indirect or direct support to the Russian army.”

Trudeau also pledged funding for de-mining operations in addition to a $25 million grant to the World Meals Programme for food security in Ukraine and a elimination of all trade tariffs for Ukrainian imports coming into Canada for the subsequent yr.

He mentioned Canada can even present new funding for ladies’s organizations, human rights defenders and civil society groups.

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“We are going to continue to do the work of being there for you with whatever we will, with no matter you want,” Trudeau stated.

Trudeau was later requested by Ukrainian media if he was conscious that in accordance with sanctions placed on him by Putin, he would not be allowed to enter Russia.

He mentioned: “If Vladimir Putin needs to proceed handing out sanctions he’s going to need to sanction about 38 million Canadians before we even start to notice,” Trudeau said.

Trudeau excursions destroyed Ukrainian cities

Ukrainian officers have not been shy in emphasizing both their want for extra supplies as well as their gratitude for Canadian assist in providing weapons, cash 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 japanese Donbas region, the place preventing has intensified.

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Many expect Putin to degree a warning to the West to not intervene throughout a Crimson Square speech in Moscow on Monday marking the World Battle 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 as we speak, these past weeks, brings shame on the tens of millions of people, on the tens of millions of Russians who sacrificed within the title of freedom. That is Putin’s legacy.”

Trudeau toured the city of Irpin, simply exterior Kyiv, which was heavily bombarded by Russian shelling through 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 battle crimes.

His safety convoy included more than 20 vehicles.

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

“I additionally witnessed the resilience of Ukrainians as folks rebuild, as individuals stood even outnumbered eight to one to defend not simply their houses but the whole city behind them of Kyiv,” Trudeau stated.

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

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

Learn more: Ukraine needs extra weapons as conflict with Russia enters ‘crucial’ section: ambassador-designate

On the end of his deal with, Trudeau said: “At present we ship a convincing 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 could have achieved extra to help Ukraine, Zelenskyy reiterated a typical plea that the nation was lacking heavy weapons and inspired the assembled media to “use the web” to find out which international locations might provide these weapons.

“Everyone knows which countries have the technical capabilities and have the weapons that fortuitously are not used on the territory of those international locations. Which might provide us with these weapons – everyone knows this.”

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He mentioned monetary help was second to weapons in terms of essential assistance and that Canada had offered sufficient of that too, primarily via the C$1 billion in new mortgage resources through the International Financial Fund and C$500 million in navy support that was introduced on Thursday.

Zelenskyy then went on to say that Canada was the “fourth nation that we additionally cannot ask more from” – behind the three Baltic states of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia.

During his go to, Trudeau and Zelenskyy participated in the G7 Leaders’ meeting, the place leaders of the world’s seven most superior economies vowed to wean their international locations off of Russian power and to keep pushing to isolate the country in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine.

The G7 leaders mentioned in a joint statement that they plan to additionally “elevate” a campaign in opposition to Russian elites who support President Vladimir Putin.

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

Trudeau said the world was more determined to see Russia lose the struggle after witnessing the atrocities committed in cities reminiscent of Mariupol and Bucha and Putin had made some “profound miscalculations” in invading Ukraine.

“Firstly, he miscalculated deeply the courage, the resolve, the strength of the Ukrainian individuals and of the Ukrainian leader. And secondly he vastly underestimated the determination and the flexibility of countries all over the world to face against his actions and stand in help of our Ukrainian mates.”

Canadian embassy reopens in Kyiv

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

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The Canadian government announced the closure of the embassy on February 12 as a result of considerations over a Russian invasion. The embassy first moved to the eastern metropolis of Lviv and then to Poland.

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

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

“This flag came down on February 13 and we’re actually glad to be elevating it once more above the Canadian embassy,” Trudeau stated.

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

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

"Having the Canadian flag fly over the streets of Kyiv as soon as once more is one more testament to the strength and solidarity of Canadians and Ukrainians” pic.twitter.com/ZfqlAlybQT

— Ashleigh Stewart (@Ash_Stewart_) Might 8, 2022

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Unfortunately, the first attempt at raising the flag ended in failure

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

— Ashleigh Stewart (@Ash_Stewart_) May 8, 2022

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

Embassy employees will resume diplomatic operations in Kyiv, as part of a gradual restoring of Canada’s full diplomatic presence and companies, a press release later stated. Nonetheless, till further notice, consular and immigration companies will continue to be supplied in Poland and different European cities.

Later, when he was asked in the course of the press conference why it had taken so lengthy to re-open the Canadian embassy, Trudeau dodged the query, merely 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 nation’s Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation, which commemorates the victims of the Second World Battle. 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 holiday to a day earlier to coincide with Victory in Europe Day, celebrated by the Allies to mark the top of the struggle.

Read more: Joly mum on Ukraine visit however says Canada’s ambassador will return when it's protected

Zelenskyy launched a robust black-and-white video on Sunday to mark the occasion, evaluating the Russian invasion of his country to the combat in opposition to fascism in the Second World Warfare.

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Within the video, which spans 15 minutes, Zelenskyy stands outdoors a bombed apartment constructing in Borodyanka, close to Kyiv, and asks: “Never again? Strive telling Ukraine that.”

De-mining focus for Ukraine

About a dozen members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were in attendance in the course of the press convention between Trudeau and Zelenskyy, to obtain commendations for their work on demining the country.

A part of Trudeau’s new supports introduced in Kyiv was funding for de-mining operations.

A kind of available to obtain a particular medal for his demining work was a two-year-old Jack Russell Terrier named Patron. The de-mining dog discovered online fame during his work demining town of Chernihiv.

However, he didn’t appear to be significantly keen on Trudeau – and reacted by barking loudly when the Canadian prime minister attempted to step ahead to move on his own congratulations.

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His handler Mykhailo Illiev told World Information before the occasion that this was his first day without work because the battle started.

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

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

He stated he and Patron hadn’t set out to “be popular.”

“I'm just doing my work, what is needed for the folks. No one has a objective of getting an award,” he mentioned.

With recordsdata from International’s Amanda Connolly

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