Trudeau says democracy at stake as Ukraine is kept away from peace talks
By Canadian Press on February 19, 2025.
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Ukraine must have a seat at the table in any peace talks, now that negotiations between Washington and Moscow have left Canadian and European leaders grappling with how to respond.
“Canada and our allies are unequivocal on standing up against (Russian President) Vladimir Putin’s illegal, immoral, unjust violations of the international order,” Trudeau told reporters Wednesday in Montreal.
U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that Ukraine somehow triggered the war, which started with Russia’s 2014 invasion of Ukraine and escalated nearly three years ago with a full-scale invasion.
Trump’s officials have been meeting with Putin’s representatives, to the dismay of European allies who have been given mixed messages on whether American troops would help to enforce any peace arrangement.
The prime minister said it is “a fundamental principle” for Canada and most of its allies that Ukraine must be part of any discussions on ending the war.
Trudeau spoke Wednesday afternoon with European leaders convened by French President Emmanuel Macron to come up with a response to Trump’s overtures to Russia.
Macron said on social media that the talks included Trudeau and leaders from EU countries, Iceland and Norway. He said the leaders agreed on the need to spend more on defence and have “robust and credible” security guarantees.
“We stand alongside Ukraine and will take all our responsibilities to ensure peace and security in Europe,” he wrote in French on the platform X, saying more decisions would be made “in the coming days and weeks.”
Trudeau said earlier in the day that democracy is at risk if countries are allowed to invade their neighbours.
“Ukrainians have been fighting and dying not just to protect their sovereignty, their territorial integrity. They’re also fighting to protect the rules-based order that keeps us all safe around the world, and has for close to 80 years now,” he said.
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress said in a statement that it’s “crystal clear” the U.S. “is no longer a reliable ally” to Canada and Europe, and urged both to do more to arm Ukraine.
The group also called on allies to proceed with long-discussed plans to seize billions of dollars of frozen Russian assets held in foreign banks, and forfeit the funds to fuel Ukraine’s war effort.
“U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent statement that Ukraine is to blame for Russia’s genocidal invasion is as revolting as it is false,” the group’s head Alexandra Chyczij wrote, saying the president’s comments will embolden Russia.
“Russia invaded Ukraine for no reason other than to destroy the Ukrainian state and annihilate the Ukrainian people.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 19, 2025.
Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press
19-18
This is Trump in action! His buddy Putin is enjoying this and laughing at the world. The UN did nothing to stop Putin from stealing parts of Ukraine and now Trump says it is all Ukraine’s fault.
Canada should be very alert to this, as Trump attempts to take over Canada using economic war! Like a hostile takeover of a company. He believes countries are just big companies, to he can take them over!
But by allowing Putin to take over Ukraine, you have just told China and Russia that it is okay to take Alaska, and after all, what can the world say, because set precedent the Ukraine takeover. The Chinese/Russian coalition can then launch attacks on all sides of North America, using Alaska to easily take over Canada, since we do not have the arms, manpower or leadership to protect us. Once they have Canada it will be easy to take the remainder of the country, if anything is left of the US after the nuclear missiles exchange.
The big question is, when will Israel realize Trump is playing them! He obviously has some plans for that region. He has surrounded himself with white supremists and Nazi Musk, so wouldn’t befriending the Jewish people go against the Nazi and white supremist ideals? Just saying!
Trump cannot be trusted!
The Turd concerned about democracy?? This is the same hypocrite that invoked the emergency measure act against citizens exercising their constitutional rights. Froze bank accounts , stole money. Democracy?
Whataboutism isn’t going to turn out to be a useful tool for your rhetoric.
Stop pretending you care about democracy.