Russia's violence 'must not go unpunished,' Zelenskyy tells Canadian parliamentarians

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered an impassioned speech to parliamentarians Fridaycalling on Canada and other western allies to stick by his country through the long, bloody road to victory.

He addressed a joint meeting of the Canadian Parliament Friday following meetings inthe United States, where he appealed for more weapons and rebuked Russia before the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council.

"Life and justice must prevail,"Zelenskyytold the House of Commons in a speech that received at least a dozen standing ovations.

"When we call on the world to support us, it is not just about an ordinary conflict. It is about saving the lives of millions of people. Literally physical salvation, ordinary women and men, children, our families, whole communities, entire cities.Russia's destruction of Mariupol or Bakhmut or any other citymust not go unpunished."

WATCH: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's full address to Parliament

Zelenskyy thanks Canada, says Ukraine must prevail against Russia

1 year ago

Duration 18:44

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Canada for its support in an address to parliamentarians Friday, saying justice must prevail and the war with Russia 'must end' with his country's victory.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau used the visit to announce Friday another$650 million in military aid for Ukraine,spread over three years,to acquire 50 armoured vehicles. The fleetwill include medical evacuation vehicles tobe built in London, Ont., he said.

The new aid package is in addition tothe $500 million announced by Trudeau in June during a visit to Kyiv.

It represents a fundamental shift in the way Canada delivers war materiel. Instead ofanswering specific, individual requests for equipment from Ukraine, the Canadian government is anticipatingits needs and planning to deliver on a sustained basis.

"History will judge us on how we defend democratic values, and Ukraine is at the tip of the spear in this great challenge of the 21st century," Trudeau told the House before introducing Zelenskyy.

"[Russian President Vladimir Putin] governs with deception, violence and repression ... But his imperial delusions in Ukraine have been met with a fierce defence. A defence that is not just strong because of the support from friends around the world, but because those who fight for their freedom will always fight with their whole hearts."

'Ajuinnata Canada'

AsUkrainian refugees looked on from the gallery,Zelenskyythanked Canada for its military aid so far,which has included air defence systems, armoured vehicles and artillery shells.

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

He said it's a tradition of sustained support that dates back to 1983, when thefirstmonumentin the world to honour the victims of the Holodomor the Soviet-engineered famine that killedmillions of Ukrainians in the 1930s. was unveiled in thecity of Edmonton.

WATCH | Edmonton 'closely linked' with Ukraine, Zelenskyy says

Edmonton 'closely linked' with Ukraine, Zelenskyy says

1 year ago

Duration 2:17

During his address to Parliament, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised Canada's support for Ukraine dating back to 1983, when the first monument in the world to honour the victims of the Holodomor the Soviet-engineered famine that killed millions of Ukrainians in the 1930s was unveiled in the city of Edmonton.

"Moscow now, as always, is bent on controlling Ukraine and makes use of all available means to do that, including genocide,"Zelenskyysaid.

"Ukraine, not genocide, will be victorious in this war.People will be the winners, not the Kremlin."

WATCH | 'Don't give up': Zelenskyy describes his meeting with Governor General

'Don't give up': Zelenskyy describes his meeting with Governor General

1 year ago

Duration 1:10

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that during his meeting with Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, she taught him an Inuktitut word - ajuinata - that means 'Don't give up,'

Zelenskyy met earlier in the day with Gov. Gen. Mary Simon. He said she taught him an Inuktitut word "ajuinnata"

"She said the meaning of this word is, 'Don't give up ... stay strong against all odds,'" he said, ending his address to Parliament.

"And so it shall be. Ajuinnata Canada. Ajuinnata Ukraine."

New sanctions announced

After the speeches, the two countries signed a modernized trade deal meant tostrengthen economic ties.

Trudeau offered more information about that$500 million aid package announced months ago. About $76 million of that package is going to supply 35 high-resolution drone cameras, while another $30million has been earmarked fora new repair facility in Poland for Ukraine's Leopard tanks.

Canada alsowill send trainers for Ukrainian pilots and more small arms ammunition and has set asidemore than $4 millionto strengthen nuclear security measures at the Chernobyl exclusion zone.

Friday's announcement brings Canada's total committed support to Ukraine to more than $9.5 billion since the beginning of 2022, according tothe Prime Minister's Office.

The government unveiled new sanctions today against 63 Russian individuals and entities Trudeau said are complicit in the kidnapping of Ukrainian children and the spread of disinformation and propaganda. The sanctions also will apply to entities in Russia's nuclear sector already sanctioned by Canada's international partners.

The NDP has called Canada's sanctions regime "political theatre." RCMP data suggestsfew funds have been frozen orseized.

As part of Friday's announcement, Canada and Ukraine agreed to work with international partners to establish a working group "toprovide advice to decision makers on the seizure and forfeiture of Russianassets, including Russian central bankassets," according to a readout from PMO.

Chillier reception in the U.S.

Zelenskyy's visit is part of his campaign to nail down long-term support from allies.

Earlier this week, Poland's prime ministerannounced a halt in military donations following a trade dispute between the neighbouringcountries.

And while the Biden administration in the United States remains firmly behind Ukraine, the notion of continued, open-endedsupport for the embattled Eastern European countryis dividing the Republican Party.U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy chose not to greet the Ukrainian leader before the cameras Thursday.

There has been no hint of any suchpolitical divide in Canada. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievregave a thumbs-up to the Ukraine delegation when it arrived outside the House of Commonschamber and Zelenskyy was formally greeted by political leaders.

In a media statement, the Conservative leader said Canadians will continue tostand with Ukrainians.

"Canada should continue to help Ukrainians win their freedom, welcome Ukrainian refugeesand finally begin to approve natural gas exports to break European dependence on Russia and turn dollars for dictators like Putin into paycheques for our people," he said.

"Canada should be an ethical, clean energy superpower that energizes the free world with our resources."

Saskatchewan Sen. Denise Batters, who is of Ukrainian descent, attended the event wearing a vyshyvanka, a traditional Ukrainianembroidered blouse. She told Zelenskyy her grandmother stitched the garmentmore than 100 years ago before coming to Canada.

Separately, Ukraine's new Defence MinisterRustem Umerov met with his Canadian counterpart, Bill Blair, at National Defence headquarters. Blairsaidthe government has had"outstanding" discussions with Ukraine about how Canada can help with its "valiant andcourageousstruggle" against Russia.

"We believe it is our responsibility and we are absolutely resolved to providing all of the assistance and support that we can for Ukraine," Blair said.

Umerov thanked Biair.

Visit comes as Ukraine reports battlefield progress

The visit happened just as reports emerged that Ukrainian forcesoperating near Orikhivhave penetrated the third line of Russian defences in the south of the country.

The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War, which has been following the invasion with daily reports and analysis,hesitatedto call it a breakthrough. Itnoted that geolocatedfootage posted online Thursday"indicates that Ukrainian armoured vehicles advanced south of the Russian anti-tank ditches and dragon's teeth obstacles" that form part of Russia's three defensive lines.

"The Ukrainian ability to bring armoured vehicles to and through the most formidable Russian defences intended to stop them, and to operate these vehicles near prepared Russian defensive positions, are important signs of progress in the Ukrainian counteroffensive," the institute said in its nightly analysis.

WATCH |Ukrainians in Canada eagerly await Zelenskyy's visit

Ukrainians in Canada eagerly await Zelenskyy's visit

1 year ago

Duration 2:03

A group of Ukrainians in Canada are excited to see their president pay a visit to the country. Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to make an in-person appeal for more military support in Ukraine's fight against Russia.

Paul Grod, president of the World Ukrainian Congress, said for Ukrainians it's not about liberating territory as much as it isabout freeingpeople from Russian occupation.

Also on Friday, aUkrainianmissilestruck the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, the major city in occupied Crimea. The attack left one serviceman unaccounted for and the building that controls Russian naval operations in ruins.