Ukrainian president welcomes $120 million loan from Canada as Russia tensions escalate

OTTAWA - The president of Ukraine has thanked Canada for a $120-million mortgage geared toward bolstering his nation’s financial system amid a hostile buildup of 100,000 Russian troops and a whole lot of tanks and armoured personnel carriers alongside its borders.

Volodymyr Zelensky, by a press release issued late Friday by the Ukrainian Embassy in Ottawa, mentioned the mortgage represents one other instance of the “particular partnership” between the 2 international locations.

The transient assertion, written by Andrii Bukvych, Ukraine’s cost d’affaires to Canada, mentioned Ukraine is grateful to Canada for working with worldwide companions to offer monetary assist, making it clear Russian aggression “is completely unacceptable.”

“Contributing to Ukraine’s monetary energy and resilience reinforces Canada’s agency political place in assist of Ukraine,” Bukvych wrote.

Outdoors of Ukraine and Russia, Canada has the world’s largest Ukrainian inhabitants at about 1.3 million inhabitants figuring out as such for the 2016 census.

Russia’s troop actions close to Ukraine have prompted hypothesis throughout Europe about an imminent invasion, one thing Russia has denied.

The Ukrainian assertion from Ottawa goes on to say Ukraine stays optimistic about receiving extra assist, which may embrace unlocking financing instruments supplied by Export Growth Canada.

“Contemplating the continued cyberattacks towards Ukraine’s infrastructure, we'd additionally admire the related technical and consultants’ help by Canadian companies,” Bukvych wrote.

Earlier on Friday, the embassy issued a blunt assertion with a a lot totally different tone. At the moment, the embassy referred to as on Canada to offer weapons to Ukraine’s army and to impose additional sanctions on Russia.

“Going through the chance of an extra Russian invasion, we have to defend our land,” the assertion mentioned. “The U.Ok. and the U.S. have already shipped the army tools and we might admire if Canada follows go well with.”

The primary assertion additionally mentioned Canada’s assist of Ukraine might be strengthened by the extension and growth of the Canadian army coaching mission often called Operation UNIFIER. About 200 members of the Canadian Armed Forces have educated 32,000 Ukrainian army personnel to NATO requirements, however that mission is ready to run out on the finish of March.

“In gentle of a critical risk of one other wave of Russian aggression, we've been in consultations with NATO member international locations, together with Canada, about means to strengthen Ukraine’s defence capacities,” the primary assertion mentioned. “We're assured that ongoing talks with our Canadian companions will ship the outcomes quickly.”

That assertion was Ukraine’s preliminary response to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s announcement of the $120-million mortgage, which he billed as one of many “prime issues” Ukrainian officers had requested for throughout conferences earlier within the week in Kyiv with International Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly.

After the conferences, International Affairs Canada issued a press release saying Joly had reaffirmed Canada’s assist for Ukraine’s sovereignty and condemned Russia’s army buildup. There was additionally a dedication to offer extra assist to Ukraine, however no particulars have been supplied.

Canadians of Ukrainian descent, together with Conservative MP James Bezan, expressed frustration with Joly’s place.

In Ottawa, NDP international affairs critic Heather McPherson mentioned the occasion supported Trudeau’s announcement.

“With the escalating threats of additional Russian invasion, we should stand in solidarity with Ukraine and its folks,” McPherson mentioned in a press release. “We urge the federal government to proceed working with our allies to stress Russia to again down earlier than they take drastic measures.”

In the meantime, a spokesman for U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a press release Saturday confirming that Joly and Blinken had mentioned the most recent developments in Ukraine a day earlier, together with efforts to encourage Russia to decide on diplomacy and de-escalation.

“Secretary Blinken pressured the US’ unwavering assist for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and our readiness to co-ordinate to impose huge penalties and extreme financial prices on Russia for additional aggression towards Ukraine,” Ned Value mentioned within the assertion.

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Jan. 22, 2022.

— By Michael MacDonald in Halifax