Justin Trudeau raises flag at Canadian embassy on surprise trip to Ukraine’s capital

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Justin Trudeau has made a surprise one-day trip to Kyiv to reopen the Canadian embassy in person on the same day he and other G7 leaders committed to reinforcing harsh sanctions against Russia for its attacks on Ukraine.

It was a day of symbolism and anticipation for western countries’ support of Ukraine, as Trudeau spent the day with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the embassies of Canada and the U.S. reopened for the first time since the war started, and U.S. first lady Jill Biden visited Ukraine first lady Olena Zelenska, all on the anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe.

During his visit, Trudeau spoke about Canada’s commitments to support Ukraine and the tight bonds between the two nations.

“This flag came down on Feb. 13 and we’re really glad to be raising it again at the Canadian embassy,” Trudeau said, standing with Ambassador Larisa Galadza and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland outside the embassy in Kyiv in a video shared by Global News. “I think it’s a testament to how the Ukrainian people have been so strong and resilient. They’ve been able to protect their city.”

“Having the Canadian flag fly over the streets of Kyiv once again is yet another testament to the incredible strength and solidarity of Canadians and Ukrainians.”

Under heavy security, the prime minister flew overnight Saturday to spend the day Sunday with Zelenskyy, a visit meant to underscore Canada’s support for Ukraine and also flag to the world that Kyiv, at least, is not in Russian hands.

Trudeau travelled to Ukraine with Freeland and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly. The prime minister reportedly spent the day with Zelenskyy, and both virtually attended a G7 meeting later in the day.

Allen Sens, professor of international relations at the University of British Columbia, said the visit carried important symbolic weight — but he hoped the meetings between Trudeau, Zelenskyy, and the cabinet ministers went beyond the symbolic.

Four things could have been high on the agenda in talks between Trudeau and Zelenskyy, Sens said: additional military equipment assistance, financial assistance for the eventual reconstruction of Ukraine, what negotiations might look like for an end to the war, and whether Russian leader Vladimir Putin might try to declare Russian republics within Ukrainian territory as soon as Monday.

“There’s a lot to talk about,” Sens said. “You could talk without visiting but going for a visit has these extra symbolic elements.”

Some of what was discussed was revealed by the Prime Minister’s office Sunday afternoon. A press release described talk of “the need for additional international support — including humanitarian, financial, and military assistance” as well as sanctions against Russia.

Trudeau also announced Canada would temporarily remove trade tariffs on products from Ukraine, and provide an additional $50 million of military equipment assistance, $25 million of humanitarian aid, and $10 million to support human rights groups working in the country.

The G7 meeting, which included leaders of the U.K., U.S., Canada, Japan, Germany, France and Italy, on Sunday reaffirmed their collective commitment to support Ukraine in its defence against Russia’s aggression.

The leaders issued a statement promising even harsher sanctions against Moscow, including a commitment to “phase out our dependency on Russian energy, including by phasing out or banning the import of Russian oil,” as well as continued sanctions on Russian banks.

“Today, we, the G7, reassured President Zelenskyy of our continued readiness to undertake further commitments to help Ukraine secure its free and democratic future, such that Ukraine can defend itself now and deter future acts of aggression,” reads a portion of the statement. “To this end, we will pursue our ongoing military and defence assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, continue supporting Ukraine in defending its networks against cyber incidents, and expand our co-operation, including on information security,” the statement said.

Sens said that while it’s clear from the G7 statement that the member countries agree broadly on supporting Ukraine, he thinks the issue of banning Russian oil is still somewhat of a sticking point — that they have not agreed on language to “phase out” or “ban.”

“Where this comes from is some countries not being willing to go to an immediate ban,” Sens said. “It’s recognition that this is a wedge issue, so they’ve papered that crack over by using this language.”

Florian Gassner, a professor in the department of central, eastern and northern European studies at the University of British Columbia, said the trip by Trudeau could be seen as especially significant because of the risk associated with travelling alongside his deputy — Freeland.

“Typically that’s something you don’t do to have the prime minister and their deputy in a war zone at the same time,” he said. “You would never have Barack Obama and Joe Biden, or Joe Biden and Kamala Harris right now in a war zone … it would breach every security protocol.”

But, Gassner said, there is little doubt Freeland was heavily involved in the “articulation of the idea” to go to Ukraine, because of her own status as a member of the Canadian Ukrainian community, and long history in the country dating back to her university education.

Russia sanctioned Freeland, banning her from entering the country, in 2014 after she spoke out against the occupation of Crimea.

“So her being there is an important signal to Canadians, and to Ukrainians,” Gassner said. “But it’s also, I assume, a very strong signal to Russia that she is there.”

Trudeau also visited the war-torn suburb of Irpin. The mayor of Irpin, Oleksandr Markushyn, posted about the visit by Canadian officials on his Telegram channel Sunday, writing in Ukrainian that Trudeau had come to view “with his own eyes the horror” of the Russian occupation.

“The prime minister is in Ukraine to meet with President Zelenskyy and reaffirm Canada’s unwavering support for the Ukrainian people,” said a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office sent out Sunday morning.

Gassner said that since Trudeau is the second G7 leader to step onto Ukrainian soil during the war, the show of solidarity — and reopening of the Canadian embassy — is likely to provide a “morale boost” to Ukrainians still fighting to defend their country from Russian attacks.

He added that Trudeau likely would have faced pressure from Canadians had he waited much longer to plan such a trip.

“I think in the long term he could not have afforded not paying a visit just because of the size and the presence of the Ukrainian-Canadian community,” he said.

Ukraine’s prime minister, Denys Shmyhal, has publicly pushed for Trudeau and his ministers to come to Ukraine, and he has emphasized that Kyiv has been safe enough to host other leaders. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and several European leaders have recently gone to Kyiv, along with other dignitaries.

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has also visited, but not President Joe Biden.

The reopening of both embassies on Sunday seemed to symbolize an understanding by Canada and the U.S. of the significance of the day, May 8, the anniversary of the defeat of Nazis in Europe, in Ukrainian consciousness.

Zelenskyy acknowledged the significance of the day in his nightly address Saturday, drawing comparisons between the need to defeat Russia and the need to turn away Naziism in the Second World War.

Canada has also been talking to Ukrainian officials for several weeks about how to safely reopen its embassy there, with Freeland — who speaks frequently to Shmyhal — saying in April it was an important gesture to make.

About 1.4 million people of Ukrainian descent live in Canada, and having an official Canadian presence in Kyiv would not only signal Canada’s support but be a way to bolster Canada’s efforts to help with humanitarian aid and refugees fleeing the dangerous parts of Ukraine.

The invasion is now in its 10th week, and observers fear May 9 may bring renewed aggression on the part of Russia. That’s the day Putin is set to speak at a Victory Day parade marking the anniversary of Nazi Germany’s surrender in 1945.

Trudeau and his cabinet have been anxious to show Canada’s unequivocal support for Ukraine, sending billions in loans, aid and weapons, especially in recent weeks. Canada has also been active in Poland, helping with the flood of Ukrainian refugees spilling into that country and easing the way for thousands of them to come to Canada.

The visit is taking place as dozens of Ukrainians are feared dead after a Russian bomb destroyed a school sheltering about 90 people in eastern Ukraine.

The governor of Luhansk province said Sunday that 30 people were rescued from the rubble of the school in the village of Bilohorivka but the rest probably didn’t survive.

Elsewhere, more explosions rocked the Black Sea port of Odesa.

Ukrainian soldiers making a last stand at a steel mill in the besieged city of Mariupol said they wouldn’t surrender following the evacuation of civilians from the sprawling site.

With files from The Canadian Press

Heather Scoffield is the Star’s Ottawa bureau chief and an economics columnist. Follow her on Twitter: @hscoffield

Alex McKeen is a Vancouver-based reporter for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @alex_mckeen