Trudeau calls out Putin on Ukraine ‘interference’

PM says change in leadership does not alter Canada’s stance on Russian actions

ANTALYA, TURKEY— Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has told Russian President Vladimir Putin that Canada remains firm that Moscow must end its “interference” in Ukraine.

Trudeau described the encounter here at the G20 summit as “brief” but one with a pointed message.

“I pointed out that although Canada has shifted its approach on a broad range of multilateral and international issues, we remain committed to the fact that Russia’s interference in Ukraine must cease, that we stand with the Ukrainian people and expect the president engage fully in the . . . peace process,” Trudeau told reporters Monday.

Stephen Harper also had a blunt encounter with the Russian president at last year’s G20 summit in Australia, where he told Putin: “You need to get out of Ukraine.”

Trudeau’s brief chat is in contrast with the lengthy discussion that unfolded here between Putin and U.S. President Barack Obama on the crisis in Syria. His meeting with Putin was one in a series of chats as Trudeau made the rounds to meet several leaders.

Monday morning, he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping here Monday, saying Canada looks forward to establishing a “fresh approach” in relations.

The two leaders had a bilateral meeting here, where the leaders of the globe’s 20 major economies have gathered for their annual summit.

Trudeau and Xi shook hands in the front of the flags of their respective countries before moving to two long parallel facing tables in a large meeting room. There were 11 on the Canadians’ side and 13 on the Chinese side. Xi noted that it was Trudeau’s father who had established relations with China 45 years ago.

“That was an extraordinary political vision,” Xi said. “China will always remember that.”

Trudeau praised the more than four decades of “strong relations.

“I’m well aware we have an opportunity to set a fresh approach in our relationship right now. I know that there are many opportunities for us to work together on economic political and cultural ties and I look forward to a very productive engagement in the coming years,” Trudeau said.

After the meeting, the Prime Minister’s Office said the two leaders discussed the “substantial and comprehensive relationship between the two countries.” When prompted, a Trudeau spokesman said the issue of human rights was discussed.

“On human rights, the prime minister did say that they would not always agree, but part of having a strong relationship involves expressing concerns and disagreements in a respectful way,” said Cameron Ahmad. Relations between Canada and China had cooled during Stephen Harper’s time as prime minister. David Mulroney, former ambassador to China, has been critical of Harper’s approach to China, saying the Conservatives were inconsistent.

Xi and Trudeau also said they remained committed to exploring the potential for a free-trade agreement between China and Canada.

“I look forward to a productive relationship in which Canada will benefit from trade but also continue to express its concerns and issues around governance and human rights,” the prime minister said.

Trudeau also met German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. The prime minister also met French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, who is attending the summit in the place of French President François Hollande, who remained in France to deal with the aftermath of Friday’s deadly terrorist attacks.

World leaders discussed that attack as part of a broader talk on security and refugees during a working dinner Sunday night. In that session, Trudeau called the Islamic State a “scourge on the world” and condemned the terror attack in France and recent bombings in Turkey, according to a summary provided by spokesperson Cameron Ahmad.

Trudeau says Canada looks forward to a ‘fresh approach’ in Chinese relations