On February 2, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Canada, Melanie Joly, visited Kyiv. During the meeting with her Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, the sides discussed a wide range of issues, including sanctions against Russia, arms for Ukraine, and the return of Ukrainian children abducted by occupiers.
Joly announced the launch of a coalition for the return of Ukrainian children. Besides Canada and Ukraine, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, and Qatar will join the coalition. The coalition aims to inform other countries about kidnapped children, unite efforts, and facilitate their return home. Kuleba acknowledged Canada’s crucial role in this matter, emphasizing Canada’s continuous support for Ukraine since the early days of the full-scale war.
The parties also discussed:
- Politics and the economy.
- Supplementary agreements on free trade between Ukraine and Canada.
- Frozen assets of Russia.
- Sanctions against Russia.
- Implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula, where Canada co-chairs the fourth point – the release of prisoners and deported persons.
Kuleba praised the effectiveness of the mechanism proposed by Canada for the return of Ukrainian children, expressing hope for active involvement from other countries. The sides also discussed the issue of arming Ukraine, with Canada committing to continue assisting Ukraine in strengthening air defense systems and providing other weapons.
It was previously reported that Canada would provide Ukraine with 10 multi-functional inflatable boats worth a total of $15 million. Canada will allocate an additional $11.5 million for the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 aircraft.
Photo: Getty Images
