Zelenskyy visits Canada for first time since war started seeking to shore up support for Ukraine
The Hindu
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy visits Canada to shore up support for war against Russian invasion. Trudeau greets him in Ottawa, they will meet with Ukrainian community in Toronto. Canada has provided $8.9B in support, 175K Ukrainians have come to Canada since war started, 700K approved for temporary relocation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address the Canadian Parliament on Friday as he continues his efforts to shore up support from Western allies for Ukraine’s war against the Russian invasion.
Mr. Zelenskyy arrived at Ottawa’s airport late Thursday after meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden and lawmakers in Washington, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office said.
Mr. Trudeau greeted Mr. Zelenskyy and will also speak in Parliament in Ottawa on Friday.
It is Mr. Zelenskyy’s first visit to Canada since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. He previously addressed the Canadian Parliament virtually after the war started.
Mr. Zelenskyy and Mr. Trudeau are scheduled to go from Ottawa to Toronto to meet with the local Ukrainian community. Canada is home to about 1.4 million people of Ukrainian descent, close to 4% of the population.
The Ukrainian president is making the trip after stops at the United Nations and the White House.
Canada's U.N. ambassador, Bob Rae, said it is important for Zelenskyy to see the extent to which Canada supports Ukraine in the war.