Justin Trudeau meets with foreign leaders and NATO partners.
Photo Credit: National Post
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s in Europe this week helping to coordinate a response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
It has been 14 days since Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine. Since then, at least 2 million refugees have fled Ukraine.
“There are hundreds of thousands of people on the move, trying to flee the combat zone and seek refuge firstly inside Ukraine in the safe zones,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. “But the safe space is reducing and people are inevitably trying to cross borders.”
On Monday, the UN confirmed there were 406 recorded Ukrainian civilian deaths and 801 injured.
Photo Credit: National Post
As the conflict in Ukraine worsens, Trudeau travels to Europe to meet with foreign leaders. On Monday he met with Queen Elizabeth.
This was the first in-person meeting for the Queen since her recent COVID-10 diagnosis. The pair were thoughtfully photographed infant of a bouquet of blue and yellow flowers.
“I have had the particular privilege of having known Her Majesty for about 45 years now,” he said in a press conference. “I can tell you that in my conversation with her this morning she was as insightful and perspicacious as ever, very interested in what is going on, and asked me all sorts of questions about Canada.”
Photo Credit: The Globe and Mail
Trudeau also attended a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte while he was in the UK. Although both Trudeau and Johnson agreed to continue to remain firm on sanctions, Reporters quickly pointed out Trudeau’s lack of answers.
When asked how effective the sanctions are in curbing Russian aggression Trudeau responded, “The courage of the Ukrainians in standing up to the Russian invaders has inspired and humbled us all and we need to show ourselves as determined to push back against Putin.
Photo Credit: CBC
On Tuesday, Trudeau, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Latvian Prime Minister Arturs Krišjānis Kariņš visited a NATO training base in Latvia.
The Prime Minister also announced a multi-year renewal of Canada’s military contribution to NATO in central and Eastern Europe in response to the conflict in Ukraine.
“The troops here are not only defending Latvia or eastern Europe, they’re defending all NATO allies, including Canada,” Trudeau said during a press conference at the base. “They’re defending our freedom and our security. That’s why this work is so important, especially in the face of continued Russian aggression.”