Despite PM’S ‘surprise’ photo op, Canada’s Kyiv embassy remains shuttered
OTTAWA — Nearly three months after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a surprise visit to Kyiv to officially reopen our country’s embassy there, Canada’s diplomatic presence in the war-torn nation’s capital remains shuttered.
Global News reporter Ashleigh Stewart first reported the closure on Thursday, tweeting photos of Canada’s Kostelna Street chancery with a laminated sign taped to its iron gates informing visitors — in both English and French — that the embassy has “suspended its operations due to the security situation.”
The sign directs those seeking consular services to book an appointment at the Canadian consulate in Lviv, about 450 kilometres west of Kyiv near the Polish border.
The wording of the sign matches that found on Global Affairs Canada’s website.
Canada’s Ukrainian embassy was abandoned in February as the security situation deteriorated within the country.
In early May, Trudeau made a surprise visit to Ukraine to, according to sources who spoke with CBC News, show solidarity with the Ukrainian people and see the devastation
of Russia’s invasion first hand.
Canada and the PM were also under mounting pressure as the list of world leaders making similar gestures and attending face-to-face meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy grew.
The prime minister’s visit culminated in a flag-raising ceremony in the embassy’s courtyard, joined by Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and Canada’s Ambassador to Ukraine Larisa Galadza.
“This flag came down Feb. 13, and we’re really glad to be raising it again above the Canadian embassy,” the prime minister said during the visit.
At the time, Canada was facing criticism for not returning its embassy staff earlier, but now three months later it’s clear the embassy never reopened after the prime minister’s May visit.
Stewart tweeted that a security guard told her nobody was working inside the padlocked and shuttered building.
Global Affairs spokesman Jason Kung told the National Post the embassy never reopened, and that ongoing security concerns kept the building vacant.
“In May 2022, Canada’s ambassador and a core team of Canadian staff returned to Kyiv to resume in-person, high-level diplomatic engagement,” Kung said.
“Security concerns remain ongoing and therefore the ambassador and staff work off-site in Kyiv to ensure their safety.”
He said that despite Canada’s ostensive return of its diplomatic presence, consular and immigration services will continue to be provided from Poland and other neighbouring countries.
“We continue to assess the assignment of personnel in Kyiv and look forward to gradually restoring Canada’s full diplomatic presence and services as soon as possible,” Kung said.