Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly begins a visit to Ukraine this Sunday, January 16, but also to France for a bilateral meeting with the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, then to Brussels.
With our correspondent in Quebec, Pascale Guericolas
The purpose of this official visit by the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs is clear: Canada wishes to reaffirm its support for Ukrainian sovereignty. Mélanie Joly fears that the Russian troops massed at the borders do not jeopardize the safety of the region. She wants to dissuade Russia from continuing its aggressive actions.
A few days ago, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hinted that Moscow could face new Western sanctions if it does not withdraw its troops.
During her trip, the Minister of Foreign Affairs must also visit 200 members of the Canadian armed forces involved in a NATO operation called Unifier.
This is not the first time that Canada, where more than a million natives of this country live, has come to the aid of Ukraine. In 1991, it was one of the first nations to salute its accession to independence. And Canadians had closely followed the Orange Revolution in 2004, then the pro-democracy uprising in 2014. This is why Ottawa wants to show Ukrainians its support in the face of the Russian threat.