Trudeau reaffirms Canada's
support for Ukraine
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his surprise visit to Kiev on Saturday is meant to reaffirm Ottawa's commitment to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian people during what he referred to as Russia's "brutal war."
Trudeau emphasized Canada's solidarity with the war-struck nation, promising further updates about this trip will come soon and that his followers should stay tuned for more information regarding the visit.
Joint address by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau to Canadian journalists at the Press Gallery Dinner in Ottawa
11 June 2023 - 20:12
Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau:
Hello everyone. Bonjour à tous.
I’m pleased to be joining you with my friend, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, tonight.
When I realized that I would be missing this year’s Press Gallery Dinner, I wanted to make sure that I could still speak with all of you.
Because the work you do is incredibly important.
And because this a scary time for journalists, and for democracies.
En ce moment, les médias sont la cible d’attaques et la démocratie est en recul.
Des journalistes se font harceler, censurer, menacer et même tuer.
Des leaders dénigrent votre travail.
Et les gens ont de moins en moins confiance en nos démocraties et nos institutions.
The fourth estate is one of our most important democratic institutions.
We cannot let it be weakened—by cynical politicians or by large corporations who want to shirk their responsibility to pay their fair share.
Whether you are a foreign correspondent who helps us see through the fog of war or a local reporter who covers city hall, your work matters.
The stories and facts you report give people the information they need to make choices that affect them, deeply.
Pour que la démocratie fonctionne, on doit tous se fier aux mêmes faits vérifiés.
C’est de cette façon que les gens vont pouvoir comprendre ce qui se passe vraiment et avoir des vrais débats sur la meilleure façon d’avancer.
Ça ne pourrait pas être plus vrai ou plus important qu’à ce moment-ci de notre histoire.
L’Ukraine – et les Ukrainiens – le comprennent mieux que quiconque.
Tonight is an opportunity for us to express our gratitude for all those who are shedding a light on Putin’s brutal war.
The brave women and men who continue to put themselves at risk so we may know the true extent of Russia’s crimes.
Tonight, we salute you.
A free press is, unequivocally, essential to democracy. And vice versa.
You speak truth to power, and you give a voice to the voiceless.
My friends, you make democracy stronger.
And what a privilege it is for us to be able to live and work in a democracy.
Partout dans le monde, les populations font d’énormes sacrifices pour avoir ce privilège.
Alors, ne tenons jamais pour acquises les libertés que nous offre notre démocratie.
Et continuons de travailler ensemble pour défendre et protéger ces libertés.
I want to close by simply saying thank you.
Thank you for everything you do for our country, its people, and for the world.
And you know we all talk often about fighting for democracy.
Well, I’d like now to turn it to someone who knows a thing or two about fighting for democracy.
Volodymyr!
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy:
Thank you so much, Justin.
I greet you all from Ukraine. Thank you for standing with us, with Ukraine.
This is often the case – and especially often with journalists and correspondents – when life challenges you to choose to become a hero. Sometimes it is much easier to avoid choosing and stay somewhere in the gray zone between the good and evil – just to pretend to be neutral. But everyone who does not avoid it, who defies the evil, who calls a spade a spade, can become a hero for more than just one day.
We live in times when our freedom depends on all of us – when the world should know the whole truth about every crime against freedom in one part of the world to keep the freedom everywhere else. The evil now claims not just one country but values – our values. It claims to destroy them.
And I thank you all for not tricking with the evil.
Thank you for telling the truth about Russian war crimes! Thank you for using your power – probably the highest power in the modern world – the power to decide what holds people’s attention and what people know. Thank you for using your power to give guidance for people and humanity.
Thank you Canada and you, Justin, my friend, the friend of Ukraine, Mister Prime Minister! Thank you!
Слава Україні!
Justin Trudeau: Героям слава!
Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Thank you
Ukraine claims advances around Bakhmut as Trudeau visits Kyiv
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shake hands during a press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday amid the Russian invasion.
June 10 (UPI) -- Ukrainian forces claimed to have made advances around the fiercely contested city of Bakhmut on Saturday as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged more assistance during a surprise visit to Kyiv.
Col. Serhiy Cherevaty, a spokesman for the Ukrainian military's Operational East Command, said Kyiv's troops were successful in advancing up to 1,400 meters ( 0.8 miles) in various areas around the key Russian-occupied city in eastern Ukraine.
"In total, there were six combat clashes, in which our Defense Forces eliminated 138 occupiers, wounded 236, and took one prisoner," Cherevaty told official media.
Ukrainian forces also destroyed Russian war materiel including howitzers, mounted combat vehicles, an anti-aircraft gun, trucks and ammunition depots in the attacks, he said.
Cherevaty emphasized that Ukrainian forces had taken high ground around Bakhmut and that Russian forces were reinforcing their positions in a bid to hold off advances that appeared to be part of a long-expected Ukrainian counteroffensive against Russian invaders in the eastern part of the country.
"Our main goal remains unchanged: to inflict maximum damage on the enemy, maximum losses on the enemy, and all tools are employed to this end," Cherevaty said.
Meanwhile on Saturday, Trudeau and Deputy Canadian Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland made a surprise trip to Kyiv where they met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who made his clearest indication yet that the counteroffensive is indeed underway.
During his visit, Trudeau observed destroyed Russian vehicles on display in Kyiv and pledged an additional $500 million in aid as well as new sanctions aimed at 24 Russian individuals 17 entities.
The Canadian leader put blame for the collapse of the Kakhovka dam squarely on Russia.
"Russia is responsible and will be held accountable," he said.
Trudeau also pledged to extend Operation Unifier, the Canadian mission to train Ukrainian forces, through 2026.
"We are very grateful that we have such good friends of Ukraine and your people show such big support for all our people in Canada," Zelensnky told Trudeau.
During his visit, Trudeau attended a wreath laying ceremony at the Wall of Remembrance -- a collection of photos honoring those killed during the Russian invasion.
In remarks at a joint press conference with Trudeau, Zelensky told reporters, "Counteroffensive and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine, at which stage I will not talk in detail."
The comments came a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin said he believes Ukraine's counteroffensive is already underway and that it is already failing.
Ukrainian demonstrators rally in Kyiv on February 12, 2022 to show unity amid U.S. warnings of an imminent Russian invasion. Photo by Oleksandr Khomenko/UPI | License Photo
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