Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

By The Canadian Press

UKRAINE

‘Bright side of history’: Zelenskyy says Canada’s help has saved thousands of lives

Sep 22, 2023 | 1:09 PM

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Canada and Canadians for standing with his country and his people in a war against Russia that he says he only one possible conclusion.

“Life and justice must prevail everywhere in Ukraine and for all Ukrainians,” said Zelenskyy, during an address to Canada’s Parliament in Ottawa Friday.

“This Russian aggression must end with our victory. Yes. So that Russia will never bring back genocide to Ukraine and will never ever try to do so. Moscow must lose once and for all, and it will lose.”

Zelenskyy, wearing his now-familiar olive green military shirt and pants, said he had no doubt which side of the war Canada would be on because “justice is not an empty word for Canada.”

“Another extremely important fact about you is you never, never, ever make a political bet on hatred and enmity,” he said. “And you are always on the bright side of history.”

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Friday marked Zelenskyy’s first official visit to Canada since Russian troops began a full-scale assault on Ukraine in February 2022. He addressed Parliament virtually just 20 days after Russian troops began invading his country, and thanked Canada for its support to that point but pleaded with it for more.

This time, Zelenskyy thanked Canada in person for what it has done in the 19 months since the war began.

That has included the provision of air defence systems, armoured vehicles and artillery shells and the training of Ukrainian soldiers, among other commitments.

“Canada’s support for Ukraine with weapons and equipment has allowed us to save thousands of lives,” he said.

He said Canada’s leadership in sanctions against Russia encouraged others to follow.

He also noted Canada’s “strong, one hundred per cent” backing of Ukraine’s bid to join NATO.

Speaking ahead of Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada was extending its financial support of Ukraine even further, this time with a multi-year financial commitment to Ukraine to give it more predictable and stable support over the next three years.

Trudeau promised another $650 million over three years for 50 new armoured vehicles that he said would be built in London, Ont.

Canadian trainers will also be sent to help Ukrainian pilots and maintenance workers use donated fighter jets, he said.

Trudeau said Canada will fund mental health care in Ukraine, acknowledging the tremendous toll the war is having on the mental health of people in that country.

Trudeau said the global rules-based order is hanging in the balance on the front lines of Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s “war of aggression” that began in February last year.