Russia's violence 'must not go unpunished,' Zelenskyy tells Canadian parliamentarians
CBC
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered an impassioned speech to parliamentarians Friday calling on Canada and other western allies to stick by his country through the long, bloody road to victory.
He addressed a joint meeting of the Canadian Parliament Friday following meetings in the United States, where he appealed for more weapons and rebuked Russia before the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council.
"Life and justice must prevail," Zelenskyy told the House of Commons in a speech that received at least a dozen standing ovations.
"When we call on the world to support us, it is not just about an ordinary conflict. It is about saving the lives of millions of people. Literally physical salvation, ordinary women and men, children, our families, whole communities, entire cities. Russia's destruction of Mariupol or Bakhmut or any other city must not go unpunished."
As Ukrainian refugees looked on from the gallery, Zelenskyy thanked Canada for its continued support dating back to 1983, when the first monument in the world to honour the victims of the Holodomor — the Soviet-engineered famine that killed millions of Ukrainians in the 1930s. — was unveiled in the city of Edmonton.
"Moscow now, as always, is bent on controlling Ukraine and makes use of all available means to do that, including genocide," Zelenskyy said.
"Ukraine, not genocide, will be victorious in this war. People will be the winners, not the Kremlin."
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday another $650 million in military aid for Ukraine, spread over three years, to acquire 50 armoured vehicles. The fleet will include medical evacuation vehicles to be built in London, Ont., he said.
"History will judge us on how we defend democratic values, and Ukraine is at the tip of the spear in this great challenge of the 21st century," Trudeau told the House before introducing Zelenskyy.
"[Russian President Vladimir Putin] governs with deception, violence and repression," he said.
"But his imperial delusions in Ukraine have been met with a fierce defence. A defence that is not just strong because of the support from friends around the world, but because those who fight for their freedom will always fight with their whole hearts."
While the Biden administration in the United States remains firmly behind Ukraine, the notion of continued, open-ended support for the embattled Eastern European country is dividing the Republican Party.
There has been no hint of any such political divide in Canada. Conservative Leader Pierre Pollievre gave a thumbs-up to the Ukraine delegation when it arrived outside the House of Commons chamber and Zelenskyy was formally greeted by political leaders.
Saskatchewan Sen. Denise Batters, who is of Ukrainian descent, attended the event wearing a vyshyvanka, a traditional Ukrainian embroidered blouse. She told Zelenskyy her grandmother stitched the garment more than 100 years ago before coming to Canada.
This First Person column is the experience of Shannon Flaman, who lives in Red Deer, Alta. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ.
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