Canada will increase pressure on Putin until he ends war, ministers say

According to an Ukrinform correspondent, the Canadian ministers of foreign affairs, defense, international development and immigration said this in a joint statement.

"This is a critical moment in the war and in our collective history. We see no sign of President Putin acknowledging his error or changing his objectives. We condemn this unjustifiable aggression and we will continue to increase pressure on President Putin and his enablers until they end this senseless war," the ministers said.

They noted that "from the beginning, his objectives were clear: to conquer and erase Ukraine from the world map and to expand Russia's sphere of influence by force." "Canada honors the incredible courage and resilience of Ukrainians and we will continue to provide Ukraine with economic, humanitarian and military support until the war is over," government officials said.

The ministers said that since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, Canada has committed over $5 billion in financial, humanitarian, development, military, peace and stabilization and other support for Ukraine, sanctioned more than 1,600 individuals and entities in Russia, Belarus and supporters of the invasion in Ukraine, welcomed more than 160,000 Ukrainian nationals and permanent residents of Ukrainian origin  fleeing the war, and provided all kinds of assistance in prosecuting war and other criminals, and fighting Russian disinformation "with transparency and the facts."

"Our commitment to Ukraine will not waver. Slava Ukraini [Glory to Ukraine]!" the ministers said.

On February 24, 2022, Russia announced the beginning of a so-called special operation in Ukraine. After that, President Volodymyr Zelensky introduced martial law in the country and declared a general mobilization.