On Monday, September 28, Conservative Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Michael Chong held a phone call with H.E. Andriy Shevchenko, Ambassador of Ukraine, about Canada-Ukraine relations.
Chong highlighted several items with the Ambassador, including:
- Canada’s longstanding ties to Ukraine, noting over a million Canadians trace their roots to Ukraine and that Canada, under Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, was the first in the world to recognize Ukraine’s independence on December 2, 1991.
- Conservatives continued opposition to Russian aggression towards Ukraine, which started in 2014 with the illegal invasion and occupation of Crimea. He noted some 200 Canadian Armed Forces personnel in Ukraine on Operation UNIFIER, which began under the previous Conservative government and continues to March 2022.
- Our continued support for Ukraine in its effort towards democratic and economic reform, as well as our commitment to continue to provide humanitarian aid and development assistance.
- Senator Andreychuk and MP Bezan’s role in introducing The Justice for Corrupt Officials Act (Magnitsky Act), and how it can be used to support our Ukrainian allies.
H.E. Shevchenko congratulated MP Chong on his appointment and thanked him for the Conservatives continued support for Ukraine. He indicated Ukraine’s support of closer relations with Canada and European allies, Magnitsky sanctions, democracy in Belarus, an expansion of Canada-Ukraine free trade to include services and investments, the continuance of Operation UNIFIER, and visa-free travel to Canada.
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