Foreign Minister Melanie Joly says Canada is more determined than ever in its support for Ukraine, as its war with Russia continues after 100 days.
In an interview with The Canadian Press, he said that Canada would continue to provide weapons and other aid while pressuring Russia with new rounds of sanctions.
“Our goal is to make sure that we put maximum pressure on the Putin regime,” he said.
Canada has been inspired by Ukraine’s determined defense of its country, he said, and will continue to support the besieged country until the war reaches its “third phase.”
“The will that the Ukrainians have shown is amazing and inspiring,” he said. “No one thought that Ukraine at the beginning of the war would be able to fight as they could, and they are still fighting and not backing down.”
After talks with his Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian counterparts in Quebec City, Joly confirmed on Friday that Canada has increased the deployment of Canadian troops to Latvia, which borders Russia.
The intention to push the Canadian Forces into the Baltics was announced by the Prime Minister in February. Canada leads a multinational NATO battle group in Latvia, one of four Baltic states and Poland designed to deter a Russian attack.
“We had 700 soldiers and now we’re increasing that by 450,” Joly said. “We are now 1,300 soldiers in Latvia. We have also increased our presence by making sure there is another frigate in the Baltic Sea.”
Joly said Canada is also preparing “to put 3,400 troops on hold for NATO.”
He said Canada plays a key diplomatic role in support of Ukraine in “maintaining strong unity” with the United States, the European Union and other allies.
U.S. President Joe Biden said this week that he would supply Ukraine with more powerful rocket systems, while Germany promised to send an air defense system.
Joly said “it was important for the US to send … heavy weapons this week” and Canada would also send more weapons.
He said he had held talks with the United Nations, the EU and the G7 on a possible diplomatic solution to help Ukraine remove millions of tonnes of grain from its Odessa port, which is being blocked by Russia.
Countries in Africa and the Middle East that depend on Ukrainian wheat as a staple food are facing famine, the UN World Food Program has warned.
Joly said Ukraine needed to “be comfortable with the diplomatic solution because its own security must be guaranteed.”
He said Canada was willing to send ships to Romanian ports to send grain and to support its rail and barge transport to neighboring European countries.
The minister said he spoke of more support for Ukraine with Gabrielius Landsbergis, the Lithuanian foreign minister; Zanda Kalnina-Lukasevica, Latvian Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs; and Eva-Maria Liimets, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia.
The Baltic states were invaded by the Soviet Union in 1940, and then by Nazi Germany in 1941. They were reoccupied later in World War II, becoming part of the Soviet Union until 1991.
“Because they are on the edge of Russia, they understand and feel the threat that Russia poses every day,” Joly said.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on June 4, 2022.