Canada poised to unveil ‘further support’ for Ukraine amid Russian aggression: Anand

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Ukraine must be allowed to determine its own future amid Russian demands that it be denied entry into NATO.

Defence Minister Anita Anand says she expects to be able to unveil details “very shortly” about additional Canadian support for Ukraine as the country stares down the threat of Russian incursion.

In an interview with The West Block‘s Mercedes Stephenson, Anand reiterated the government’s commitment to extending Operation Unifier, which is the Canadian Forces training mission set to expire in March, as concerns grow that Russian President Vladimir Putin could mount an invasion of Ukraine.

“I can say that I’m working with my cabinet colleagues on ways to further support Ukraine, and I will have more to say on those options very shortly,” Anand told Stephenson.

Her comments came just hours after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada is pledging $120-million in loans to Ukraine. He said the country, which is independent and is looking to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), must be allowed to determine its own future.

Russian officials have demanded a guarantee that NATO will not allow Ukraine to join the military alliance, a key backbone of which is the principle of collective defence.

In short: an attack against one member is an attack against all.

Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014, but the territory was recognized as Ukrainian in a non-binding United Nations General Assembly resolution that same year.

With Russian troops massing on the border of Ukraine as well as cyberattacks against the Ukrainian government and public institutions, and interference in the country’s politics, there have been growing concerns over recent weeks that Putin is looking at another incursion into Ukrainian territory.