Canadian PM Justin Trudeau meets with Zelensky -'Ukraine will prevail'

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a surprise visit to Ukraine over the weekend. Trudeau arrived in Kyiv on Sunday to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

PM Trudeau also visited Irpin near Kyiv to "see with his own eyes all the horror which Russian occupiers have caused," according to a social media post by the town's mayor on Sunday.

Photo: Twitter

Justin Trudeau was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland (pictured), Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, along with an armed security detachment.

Photo: Instagram@chrystiafreeland

According to CBC News, in addition to meeting with Mr. Zelensky, Trudeau also reopened the Canadian Embassy in Kyiv. "This flag came down on Feb. 13th, and we're really glad to be raising it again above the Canadian embassy," Trudeau said.

Photo: screenshot CBC News

Irpin is located on the outskirts of Kyiv and was the scene of some of the heaviest fighting in March as Russian forces attempted to storm the capital.

However, much to the world's surprise, the Ukrainian troops halted the advance in the area and pushed back the invasion force.

Mr. Trudeau attended a news conference with Zelensky, where he praised the Ukrainian president for his courage and leadership of the Ukrainian people.

The Canadian Prime Minister said, "It was a true inspiration to see people step up to defend their lives, defend their community, defend a bright future for themselves and their families in the country they love."

While Trudeau met with Zelensky in Kyiv, Russian missiles rained down on Odesa, the critical port city to the south.

Meanwhile, in the district of Luhansk, rescue workers searched through the rubble of a bombed school where at least 60 people lost their lives.

Photo credit: UKRAINIAN STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE / HANDOUT

In addition, the eastern areas of Ukraine saw heaving fighting in particular close to Kharkiv, the second biggest city in Ukraine.

At the news conference Trudeau gave while in Kyiv, Trudeau expressed his view that Russian president Vladimir Putin has committed "heinous war crimes" and that Ukraine can count on Canada's support as they seek justice.

PM Trudeau also announced that Canada would be providing Ukraine military aid by donating small arms, artillery shells, drone cameras, and satellite imagery.

Photo: Twitter

The Canadian Prime Minister also revealed that all Ukrainian imports to Canada would be free of duties for the next year and that Russian individuals and entities in Canada would receive sanctions.

In an exclusive interview with Reuters, Trudeau shared his thoughts on Putin and the war in Ukraine. "I don't think it much matters what Putin says anymore. He has demonstrated that he does not have a clear understanding of what's going on."

PM Trudeau continued, "He so profoundly miscalculated by not understanding the extent to which Ukrainians would fight like the heroes they are to defend their language, their identity, their territory."

Justin Trudeau went on to say that Putin did not comprehend or expect Western countries to back Ukraine as they have. "Nor did he understand the resolve with which Western countries would come together to stand up for our democracy and give Ukraine the tools needed to win this war against Putin."

During Justin Trudeau's news conference, when a reporter asked him if NATO countries were concerned about Russia using nuclear warfare, the PM said, "no amount of irresponsible sabre-rattling" will stop Ukraine's supporters.

President Zelensky told reporters that he welcomed Canadian support and said that Trudeau was the leader of a country from which Ukraine could not ask for more support.

However, CBC News reported that Zelensky did indicate that Canada could be of assistance in influencing other, more heavily armed members of NATO in providing the Ukraine military with more advanced weapons.

Mr. Zelensky also expressed that he would like Justin Trudeau to support a modern-day Marshall Plan that Ukraine is asking for.

The Marshall Plan is an Allied program that was used to help countries in western and southern Europe rebuild their economies after World War II. Zelensky hopes to find similar help for his war-destroyed country.

Mr Trudeau wrapped up the new conference in Kyiv by saying, "Putin and his accomplices will fail. Ukraine will prevail."