Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion concluded his one-day visit to Ukraine on Monday aimed at showing Ottawa’s continued support for Ukraine under the new Liberal government, while trying to nudge Kyiv to continue on its path of Western inspired reforms.
Dion met with his Ukrainian counterpart, Pavlo Klimkin, and with Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
Dion reiterated the need for the full respect of Ukraine’s sovereignty and underlined the importance of full implementation of the Minsk agreements, particularly by Russia, to ensure a durable peace in Ukraine, said a statement by Global Affairs Canada.
Dion’s visit came after he faced a barrage of criticism from Opposition Conservatives over his decision to engage Russia more broadly last week.
Dion said Canada remains a steadfast friend of Ukraine, but will be open to talking to Russia because it could serve Canada’s needs, including in the Arctic where the two countries have shared interests.
“Today, the United States is speaking to Russia. Europe is speaking to Russia. Japan is speaking to Russia,” Dion said.
“In what way would it help Ukraine if Canada never speaks to Russia, even about the Arctic?”
During his discussions in Kyiv, Dion made it clear that “the Canadian government intends to speak clearly, bluntly and directly to Russia about its unacceptable actions in Ukraine,” said the statement by Global Affairs Canada.
‘Timely visit’
Dion’s visit to Ukraine was welcomed by one of the most important Ukrainian-Canadian community organizations.
“It’s an important and timely visit,” said Orest Zakydalsky, senior analyst with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC). “Minister Dion went to Ukraine at a time when Russia continues its illegal occupation of Crimea and its invasion into eastern Ukraine, so this was an important show of Canada’s continuing support for Ukraine and its people.”
(click to listen to the interview with Orest Zakydalsky)
ListenDion’s visit also comes at a time when western governments are becoming increasingly worried about continued infighting and power struggles in Ukraine’s pro-Western camp.
And while Dion acknowledged that Ukraine has taken important steps to implement its obligations under the Minsk agreements to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine, he reminded his hosts of the “importance of maintaining this momentum.”
This comes as Russia and the Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine continue to accuse Kyiv of violating the Minsk ceasefire agreement by adding conditions to a law granting limited self-rule to rebel-held eastern regions, a key demand by the rebels.
Ukraine and its Western allies, including Canada, in turn accuse Russia of not only arming and supplying the rebels but also sending in its regular troops to beef up the rebel forces.
Continued military assistance
To counteract Russia’s military assistance to the rebels the UCC would like to see Canada continue its efforts to train and equip the Ukrainian military, as well as provide the Ukrainian military with lethal weapons, said Zakydalsky.
So far Canada’s military assistance to Ukraine has been limited to non-lethal equipment, such as bomb-disposal equipment, night vision systems, medical kits and winter clothing.
The Ukrainian-Canadian community also wants to see a quick signing and ratification of Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement, continued support for the development of the Ukrainian civil society and democratic institutions in Ukraine, he said.
Dion left Kyiv for Rome, where is to attend a ministerial meeting of the Small Group of the Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) on Tuesday.
With files from The Canadian Press
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