MFA Ukraine: Canada set to apply all mechanisms to deter Russia from further aggression against Ukraine

During the meeting of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Senik, and the Assistant Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Sandra McCardell, the Canadian side reaffirmed its readiness to use all possible mechanisms to deter Russia from expanding aggression against Ukraine.

That’s according to the Ukrainian foreign ministry’s press service, Ukrinform reports.

"On December 10, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (CDTO) Dmytro Senik met with Assistant Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Sandra McCardell. The interlocutors discussed cooperation on a wide range of issues on the bilateral agenda, including politics, security, and trade. Particular attention was paid to the threat of intensification of Russian aggression against Ukraine and specific steps within the framework of a comprehensive package to deter Russia from further aggressive actions," the statement said.

According to Sandra McCardel, Canada reaffirmed continued support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and its readiness to apply the existing instruments to prevent the conflict from escalating.

The parties coordinated further steps to prepare for the next stage of negotiations with Iran on ensuring that those responsible for the PS752 downing near Tehran are brought to responsibility and justice prevails for the victims and their families, the press service said.

It should be recalled that on January 8, 2020, a UIA passenger plane, flight PS752 (Tehran-Kyiv) was shot down shortly after taking off the Iranian capital’s airport. All crew and passengers, a total of 176 people, citizens of Ukraine, Canada, Sweden, Iran, Afghanistan, and the United Kingdom were killed in the crash.

On January 11, the Iranian authorities, after a few days of denying involvement in the jet crash, admitted that the Ukrainian airliner had been “mistakenly” shot down by an anti-aircraft missile system.

On November 22, 2021, the military court of Iran launched hearings of the case.

In June 2021, the Iranian prosecutor's office indicted ten officials as part of the inquiry. The Superior Court of Justice of the Canadian province of Ontario has recognized the downing of the UIA plane as an act of terror.