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 responsible for “heinous struggle crimes” following a shock go to to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

The temporary journey was presupposed to be kept below wraps until after Trudeau left Ukraine, however native officers and media broke the embargo Sunday morning.

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

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

“It's clear that Vladimir Putin is responsible for heinous struggle crimes. There must be accountability,” Trudeau said during an impassioned speech.

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

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

“We are presently facing a full-fledged aggression of Russia and this can be a gesture of support we highly admire,” Zelenskyy mentioned.

Zelenskyy mentioned Canada was second solely to the US in the “scope of assistance it’s been offering to Ukraine.”

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

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

Read extra: Russian official claims U.S. ‘straight participating’ in Ukraine fight as ‘Victory Day’ nears

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Through the press conference, Trudeau introduced Canada will provide a further $50 million in military help to Ukraine, together with 18 drone cameras, $15 million in high-resolution satellite tv for pc imagery, and up to $1 million in small arms and ammunition.

Trudeau additionally announced sanctions towards 40 further Russian people – 21 oligarchs and shut associates of the Russian regime and 19 people within the Russian defence sector. Five entities would even be sanctioned for “offering indirect or direct help to the Russian navy.”

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

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

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“We will continue to do the work of being there for you with no matter we will, with whatever you need,” Trudeau mentioned.

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

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

Trudeau excursions destroyed Ukrainian cities

Ukrainian officials haven't been shy in emphasizing each their need for extra supplies in addition to their gratitude for Canadian assist in offering weapons, cash and diplomatic assist.

Now two-and-a-half months into Russia’s invasion of the nation, the bulk of Russian forces have retreated into the contested jap Donbas area, where fighting has intensified.

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Many anticipate Putin to stage a warning to the West to not interfere throughout a Crimson Sq. speech in Moscow on Monday marking the World Warfare 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 hundreds of thousands of people, on the thousands and thousands of Russians who sacrificed within the title of freedom. That's Putin’s legacy.”

Trudeau toured the city of Irpin, just 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 conflict crimes.

His security convoy included more than 20 autos.

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

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

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

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He also pointed out that Sunday was Mom’s Day in Canada and wanted to precise his “admiration and respect for all the moms in Ukraine.”

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

On the finish of his address, Trudeau stated: “Right this moment we send a resounding message to the world that Canada and our allies continue to face shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine,” earlier than saying “Slava Ukraini.”

When requested if Canada might have completed more to assist Ukraine, Zelenskyy reiterated a common plea that the country was missing heavy weapons and encouraged the assembled media to “use the web” to determine which countries might provide these weapons.

“Everyone knows which international locations have the technical capabilities and have the weapons that happily are usually not used on the territory of these countries. Which may present us with those weapons – we all know this.”

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He stated monetary assist was second to weapons by way of vital help and that Canada had offered 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 navy support that was announced 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 within the G7 Leaders’ meeting, the place leaders of the world’s seven most advanced economies vowed to wean their countries off of Russian energy and to maintain pushing to isolate the country in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine.

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

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Talking after the assembly on Russia’s nuclear threats, Trudeau said: “No quantity 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 stand in opposition to Putin’s unlawful and irresponsible invasion.”

Trudeau mentioned the world was more decided to see Russia lose the conflict after witnessing the atrocities dedicated in cities resembling 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 determination and the flexibility of countries around the world to stand against his actions and stand in support 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 Overseas Affairs Melanie Joly and Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine Larisa Galadza to raise the Canadian flag as soon as once more.

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The Canadian authorities announced the closure of the embassy on February 12 attributable to issues over a Russian invasion. The embassy first moved to the eastern city of Lviv and then to Poland.

Nonetheless, the flag-raising ceremony briefly went awry when the chosen flagpole’s mechanisms failed and the group were forced around the side of the constructing to attempt again.

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

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

“Having our Canadian flag fly over the streets of Kyiv as soon as once more is just another testament to the energy and solidarity of Canadians and Ukrainians and how we continue to be with them.”

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

"Having the Canadian flag fly over the streets of Kyiv as soon as 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 attempt at elevating the flag led to failure

Trudeau and co then resorted to a different flagpole around 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 safety guard, Sergii Maier, for staying on the embassy whereas it was closed. Maier, who has labored on the embassy for 5 years, stated he was simply doing his job.

Embassy staff will resume diplomatic operations in Kyiv, as part of a gradual restoring of Canada’s full diplomatic presence and companies, a press release later mentioned. However, till additional notice, consular and immigration services will proceed to be provided in Poland and different European cities.

Later, when he was requested in the course of the press convention why it had taken so long to re-open the Canadian embassy, Trudeau dodged the question, merely saying it was “an unimaginable honour” to re-open it after it had been closed for months.

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Trudeau’s go to 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 Conflict. 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 war.

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

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

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Within the video, which spans quarter-hour, Zelenskyy stands outdoors a bombed house constructing in Borodyanka, near Kyiv, and asks: “Never again? Attempt telling Ukraine that.”

De-mining focus for Ukraine

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

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

A kind of readily available to receive a particular medal for his demining work was a two-year-old Jack Russell Terrier named Patron. The de-mining canine found on-line fame during his work demining the town of Chernihiv.

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

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His handler Mykhailo Illiev instructed World Information earlier than the event that this was his first time without work for the reason that war began.

“We don’t have any time once we can calm down,” he stated.

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

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

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

With recordsdata from International’s Amanda Connolly

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