Trudeau calls for recommitment to democracy in face of Russian invasion of Ukraine

Democracy has not been at its best in recent years, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told an international audience Wednesday as he called for a recommitment to it in the face of Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Trudeau also said Zelensky accepted an invitation to address Canada's Parliament.

"At its best, democracy is always stronger than authoritarianism," Trudeau said in a speech to the Munich Security Conference, a Berlin-based international think tank.

"But if we're going to be honest with each other, democracy hasn't exactly been at its best these past few years," he added. "Even as we're fighting Putin's invasion, we need to recommit ourselves to the work of strengthening our democracies."

Trudeau was in Berlin for meetings with Chancellor Olaf Scholz largely about the response to Russia and ongoing needs to support Ukraine. But from Berlin he spoke by phone to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to inform him of additional aid Canada is sending.

Trudeau also said Zelensky accepted an invitation to address Canada's Parliament. Zelensky addressed the British Parliament virtually Tuesday.