Canada unveils sanctions as Russian troops move into Ukraine

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This article was published 21/02/2022 (1040 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Canada will join the U.S. and other allies in imposing immediate economic sanctions against Russia for its hostile incursion into Ukraine, and will commit 460 new troops to NATO forces in Europe, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday.

“Canada strongly condemns (Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin’s recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk as so-called ‘independent states.’ This recognition is a violation of Russia’s obligations under international law and the Charter of the United Nations. Canada also denounces Russian military actions, including orders to move into Ukraine, which is a clear incursion of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Trudeau told an afternoon news conference in Ottawa.

“Make no mistake, this is a further invasion of a sovereign state, and it is completely unacceptable. Russia’s brazen provocations are a threat to security and peace in the world.”

Trudeau portrayed the moment as a pivotal one for the principles Canada stands for. “Canada and our allies will defend democracy. We are taking these actions today to stand against authoritarianism. The people of Ukraine, like all people must be free to determine their own future.”

Trudeau was joined at the news conference by Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Global Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and Defence Minister Anita Anand. They took turns outlining the first phase of Canada’s response to the Russian aggression, emphasizing that they had co-ordinated closely with allies including the U.S., Germany, the U.K. and France, and promising more action would follow if Putin persisted in a full-blown invasion of Ukraine.

“Russia needs to stand down,” Trudeau said. “It needs to understand that there are consequences for a country that chooses to use force to violate fundamental precepts of international law that have kept our world remarkably stable for many, many decades. This is something that the entire world needs to stand together with, and Canada and its allies will stand up not just for our friends in Ukraine, but for the values and principles of democracy.”

Anand detailed the new troop commitment, which includes a 120-member artillery battery to join the 540 Canadian troops already stationed with NATO in Latvia, the deployment of the frigate HMCS Halifax to join NATO’s marine patrol, and a maritime patrol aircraft and its crew. These troops are intended to bolster NATO’s capability in the area, not to confront Russia troops in Ukraine, and come alongside U.S. President Joe Biden’s announcement of American troops moving into Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania.

The sanctions imposed by Canada appear to have been developed in co-ordination with the White House, as many mirror those announced by Biden a few hours earlier. Canada will ban doing business with the regions of Ukraine that Russia has declared independent, forbid Canadians from purchasing Russian sovereign debt, sanction two large government-affiliated banks, and place sanctions on the members of Russian parliament who voted to recognize the two breakaway regions.

“Today’s actions are only the first step,” Freeland said. “The measures that Canada and our allies have been preparing will be sustained, and they will bite. The economic costs to Russia will be severe.”

And if Russia does not withdraw from Ukraine, she said, echoing the prime minister, there will be more. “If Russia does not pull back, it will be met with a firm, united and sustained response from Canada and our allies. The world’s autocrats are watching today to see if our alliance of democracies has the will and capacity to stand up for the rules-based international order. Canada and our allies are resolute in our defence of that order, and to freedom, human rights and democracy around the world.”

Edward Keenan is the Star’s Washington Bureau chief. He covers U.S. politics and current affairs. Reach him via email: ekeenan@thestar.ca