Trudeau condemns attacks on civilians
As he finished a tour of European capitals, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he is confident Russian President Vladimir Putin will fail in his horrific invasion of Ukraine.
“Putin has made a terrible mistake and he's going to lose this war. He's going to lose this war because the ferocity and strength and resolve of the Ukrainian people defending their territory is inspiring us all,” he said.
Trudeau spoke to reporters Thursday alongside Polish President Andrzej Duda, as the prime minister ended a trip that has taken him to London, Berlin, Latvia and Poland.
Trudeau met for an hour on Thursday evening with U.S. Vice-president Kamala Harris, who was also in Warsaw, for a discussion about how the two North American neighbours could help their European allies deal with their security and humanitarian needs.
“We stand in solidarity in terms of our outrage,” Harris told Trudeau before the meeting. Trudeau in turn praised her and the Biden administration for leading “like-minded countries to prepare for this possibility of the unthinkable, of Russia invading Ukraine.”
The United States also raised fears this week that Putin will unleash chemical weapons in the war, which Trudeau and Duda said would be met with the harshest of consequences.
"Putin needs to know that the consequences for his actions already will be severe, and further escalations by him, further targeting of civilians, further use of problematic ways to kill civilians, is going to be met with the severest of responses both globally and individually on him,” Trudeau said.
Ukrainian cities have been heavily damaged by continued shelling from Russian forces, including recent reports that a maternity hospital in Mariupol was hit by a Russian airstrike.
Trudeau said the attacks on cities are horrific and there will be increases in sanctions and consequences for Russian leadership.
“Putin's callous disregard for human life is absolutely unacceptable. It is very clear that he has made the choice to specifically target civilians now,” Trudeau said.
Canada has sanctioned Russian banks and dozens of individuals around Putin. Trudeau said he has found widespread agreement among European leaders on the need to ensure the Russian regime faced escalating sanctions if they don't stop the invasion of Ukraine.
“We are constantly talking about how to increase, how to stiffen, and how to bring more sanctions against more of Vladimir Putin's friends and supporters,” he said.
Trudeau said the government would increase to $30 million, from $10 million initially offered, the amount of matching funds it would provide to the Red Cross special appeal for Ukraine.
He also announced that $50 million would be made available now for such organizations as the World Food Program and Save the Children as part of a broader package of $100 million previously announced for humanitarian assistance. He said $117 million will be spent on expediting applications from Ukrainian refugees.
The government has not allowed visa-free travel to Canada as several opposition parties have called for. Trudeau said many Ukrainians will want to come to Canada only temporarily, but the government's current program will allow them to work while they are here.