Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says she wants Canadians to play a task in keeping the peace in Ukraine after Russia’s war ends.
U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged to carry talks with Russian officials on learn how to end the war, which began with Moscow’s 2014 invasion and escalated to a full-scale war almost three years ago.
Joly says Canada continues to ask the U.S. to incorporate Ukraine in those talks, after Washington suggested Ukraine will lose territory and can’t be a part of the NATO military alliance.
Joly is wrapping up visits to France, Germany and Belgium that she says have been focused on defending Canadian jobs and shoring up Canada’s defence, because the U.S. threatens allies with tariffs and with ending some military co-operation.
She says that while Europeans are receptive to the concept of closer ties with Canada, many are unaware of the extent to which the Trump administration is difficult Canada’s economy.
Joly is heading to South Africa for a gathering of G20 foreign ministers, where she’s going to try to find out how Canada’s position chairing the G7 might reflect the priorities of the larger G20 group.
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Joly says the conflict in Ukraine can’t end on terms that allow Russia to further destabilize Europe, and Canada desires to help ensure a long-lasting peace after Washington sent mixed messages on whether U.S. troops might help implement a peace deal.
“We would like to be a part of these conversations regarding security guarantees,” Joly told a virtual news conference from Brussels this morning.
“We would like to be a part of conversations linked to more Canadians being involved in protecting Ukraine.”
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