STATEMENT ON THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF MILITARY INVASION: CONSERVATIVES WILL NEVER RECOGNIZE ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF CRIMEA
Today marks the two-year anniversary of the so-called ‘referendum’ held in Crimea and the invasion and military occupation of Ukraine by the Putin regime.
To mark this solemn occasion, Official Opposition Foreign Affairs critic, Tony Clement, and Defence critic, James Bezan, call on the Liberal government to clearly state that it will never recognize the illegal occupation of Crimea:
“It is deeply concerning that the Liberal government, in a statement released today, refused to repeat what we have been saying all along: that Canada will never recognize any part of Ukraine as Russian territory. Crimea is Ukraine, Donbas is Ukraine and they always will be. Canada must not waver in standing with our partners and allies in support of the people of Ukraine, and their quest for peace and democracy.
“We are also concerned that, in light of Russia’s Foreign Minister asking Canada to ease up on its support to the people of Ukraine, the Liberal government has signaled its intent to normalize relations with the Putin regime.
“Under the former Conservative government, sanctions related to Russia were enacted under the Special Economic Measures Act in direct response to Russia’s violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. The Conservative caucus encourages the Liberal government to keep these sanctions in place, in their entirety, until Russia ceases aggression and withdraws completely from Ukraine.”
