Canada Announces New Sanctions, Aid on Ukraine War’s Fourth Anniversary
OTTAWA, Ontario – Canada marked the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Tuesday with a renewed commitment to Kyiv, announcing new sanctions against Moscow and an additional $2 billion in financial support for Ukraine.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand underscored the importance of continued international support for Ukraine, framing the conflict as a defense of fundamental principles. “If we value democratic government, if we value the concept of territorial integrity, if we value state sovereignty, then we see Ukraine’s fight as part of a broader fight in defence of those principles,” Anand said.
The new sanctions target 21 individuals and 53 entities, alongside 100 vessels linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet,” according to a press release from the Department of National Defence. Canada is also lowering its price cap for Russian crude oil from US$47.60 to US$44.10 per barrel.
The $2 billion pledge will go towards renewing Operation Unifier, a Canadian military training mission in Ukraine that began in 2014. This brings Canada’s total commitment to Ukraine over the past four years to $25 billion. The announcement was made in front of Ukrainian Ambassador Andrii Plakhotniuk and students at the University of Ottawa.
The anniversary was also marked by expressions of solidarity from European leaders, with more than a dozen officials travelling to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen were among those paying tribute to fallen Ukrainian soldiers.
Zelenskyy addressed the Ukrainian people via video, praising the resilience of the Ukrainian armed forces and thanking international partners, including Canada and the United States. He expressed hope for a future meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Ukraine to demonstrate the realities of the ongoing war.
“Putin has not achieved his goals,” Zelenskyy stated. “He has not broken Ukrainians. He has not won this war. We have preserved Ukraine, and we will do everything to secure peace and justice.”
The ongoing conflict, which Russia initially anticipated would be a swift victory, continues to draw international condemnation and support for Ukraine’s sovereignty.
