On Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that Canada would stand with Europe as his country was talking similar steps to combat oil and gas issues. He spoke at a joint press conference with leaders whom he met including Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the U.K. as well as Dutch Prime Mark Rutte, on Monday. He is visiting Europe and meeting its leaders this week. He also met the Queen.
He mentioned that Europe and other countries had realized that Russia was no longer a partner on whom they could rely on for energy. He said that Vladimir Putin had broken “a trust.” He said that they would be there to support Europe as they along with other nations of the world moved “beyond Russian oil” as well “beyond fossil fuels” and added “more renewables” in their “mix.”
He also mentioned that it was important to move away from Russian fuels not only due to the impending crisis as the Ukraine-Russia conflict continued but also beyond it. He said that “Russia’s unreliability as a trading partner” should be remembered in the future as well.
As the invasion of Ukraine by Russia continues, Justin Trudeau announced sanctions against 10 new people who were prominent leaders close to Putin, on the same day. He said that the list was compiled by opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who is in jail in Russia. Trudeau added that the sanctions had “put increased pressure on Russia’s leadership” and the sanctioned individuals included those who were in “Putin’s inner circle.”
On Tuesday, at a military base in Latvia, Trudeau said that he was extending the military mission of his country in the Baltics to help NATO allies deter additional military aggression from Russia. Canada’s involvement in Operation Reassurance was set to end next year, before he announced its extension.
Both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that any attack on a NATO ally would be though it was an attack on all the NATO allies, when they were asked about the future; if Russia encroached on a country beyond Ukraine. Stoltenberg mentioned that the aim of additional military presence in countries who belong to the NATO alliance was to prevent further war.
Justin Trudeau also said, “NATO has never been more united and determined than we are now.”
(Photo: Art Babych)
