Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has embarked on his first official visit to Canada in almost a year amidst a wave of deadly airstrikes in his country. Zelenskyy, accompanied by his wife Olena Zelenska, is scheduled to be in Canada from Wednesday to Friday, attending engagements in Calgary, Toronto, and North Bay, as announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney.
The visit highlights Canada’s ongoing support for Ukraine and emphasizes the commitment to achieving a just and enduring peace, according to Carney. The discussions during the visit will revolve around mutual priorities of enhancing defense, economic, and energy collaborations between Canada and Ukraine, the statement by Carney outlined. Additionally, the visit aims to address the human toll of Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine and strengthen the cultural ties between the two nations.
Although the exact arrival details of Zelenskyy in Canada have not been disclosed in the statement, the itinerary shows a meeting scheduled with the Ukrainian President in Calgary on Thursday morning, where both leaders will partake in a signing ceremony followed by a joint press conference.
Zelenskyy had announced his trip to Canada through a social media post on Wednesday, without specifying the arrival city. His last visit to Canada was in December last year, where he met with Carney in Halifax before proceeding to the United States for discussions focused on resolving the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
On Tuesday, a flight intended to transport Zelenskyy from Moldova to Norway faced delays due to the closure of Moldova’s airspace following a drone incursion. The incident involved a Russian drone crashing in a sunflower field near a village in the Riscani district, causing minor fires but no injuries. Moldovan authorities closed the airspace as a precaution, resulting in the delay of several flights, including Zelenskyy’s.
Zelenskyy’s visit to Canada occurs amid severe airstrikes in Kyiv and a plea from the Ukrainian government for increased air defense assistance as European leaders express concerns about the expanding conflict initiated by Russia.
Ahead of his trip to Canada, Zelenskyy criticized the international response to Russia’s escalating attacks on civilian areas in Ukraine, urging for stronger actions against Moscow’s aggression. Meanwhile, Carney reiterated his stance on Putin’s involvement in the war, affirming a straightforward message if the Russian President attends the upcoming G20 summit in Miami.
Carney emphasized that the message to Putin would be direct: to withdraw from Ukraine, return control to the Ukrainian government, and end the deadly conflict that claims thousands of lives monthly.