Canada announces new sanctions on Russia amid Ukraine tensions
Global News
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said up to 460 additional Canadian troops are being sent to Latvia and the surrounding region to bolster NATO in the face of Russian aggression.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is sending hundreds more troops to eastern Europe and imposing new sanctions on Russia in response to the deployment of forces into Ukraine.
The prime minister says up to 460 additional Canadian Armed Forces members are being sent to Latvia and the surrounding region to bolster NATO in the face of Russian aggression.
He also says Canada is taking a number of steps alongside its allies to isolate Russia financially.
The sanctions come as the threat of war between Russia and Ukraine grows.
On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin was given permission from Kremlin lawmakers to deploy Russian military forces to two separatist-held regions of eastern Ukraine for what officials said would be a “peacekeeping” mission.
The permission came after Moscow formally recognized the independence of the Ukrainian regions on Monday, triggering international condemnation and sanctions from Western nations.
The Kremlin has consistently denied it is planning to pursue a full-blown war with Ukraine – but the United States declared Russia’s troop deployments in eastern Ukraine to be an “invasion.”
Biden announced Tuesday that Washington is imposing “full blocking sanctions” against Russia’s military bank and the financial institution VEB. The White House also announced it’s implementing “comprehensive sanctions on Russian sovereign debt,” meaning Russia’s government has been cut off from Western financing, Biden said.
