Our Canadian government is proud to stand with the people of Ukraine. Prime Minister Harper was one of the first voices on the international stage to offer support for Ukraine while expressing outrage at the use of military force against civilians.
The Prime Minister was the first G7 leader to meet with Ukraine’s prime minister and acting president to demonstrate to the world our nation’s solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
We have made clear to all parties that we support the efforts of the Ukrainian people to restore democracy, freedom and the rule of law.
During the election, Canada sent hundreds of independent observers to help ensure that the people of Ukraine were able to exercise their most fundamental democratic right – to vote.
Following the election, Prime Minister Harper attended the inauguration of President Petro Poroshenko and was the first official meeting of President Poroshenko’s reign, exemplifying the special relationship between our two countries.
Our support of Ukraine extends to the deployment of military equipment, which will provide physical and medical protection for Ukrainian Forces, as well as the deployment of Canadian Armed Forces personnel to help train Ukrainian military members.
Prime Minister Harper and our Conservative Government have been steadfast in our condemnation of Russian action in Crimea. Russia’s illegitimate referendum and illegal annexation of Crimea violate international law.
Negotiations have recently concluded with regard to the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement, which will help create jobs and opportunities in both Ukraine and Canada and forge an even stronger tie between our countries. The agreement shows our support for Ukraine’s economic reform efforts and will help grow bilateral trade between our nations.
Our support for Ukraine is unwavering. We will work with our International Partners to ensure that Ukraine’s borders are respected and that the Ukrainian people can determine their own future through true democratic processes.
As Prime Minister Harper stated, “Canada is committed to helping Ukraine chart a new course in history, one that is underpinned by democratic principles, the rule of law, and a respect for human rights.”