THE LEAGUE OF UKRAINIAN CANADIANS ENCOURAGES READERS TO WRITE TO THEIR MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT ASKING FOR CANADIAN LEADERSHIP AND INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE DURING CANADA’S G7 PRESIDENCY.
Dear Member of Parliament,
Re: Canada’s G7 Presidency and international support for Ukraine
I am writing to you on behalf of the League of Ukrainian Canadians (LUC) to express my support for Canada taking a leadership role in the international community’s response to Russia’s ongoing hybrid war against the West, and Ukraine in particular. Our organization fully supports the call to action initiated by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and UCC’s briefing note to Members of Parliament in early February 2018.
Since invading Ukraine in 2014 and illegally occupying and annexing Crimea, Russia has waged a war of aggression against Ukraine and its people. This war has cost Ukraine over 10,300 dead, over 23,500 wounded and over 1.7 million internally displaced people.
In 2018, Canada holds the Presidency of the G7. One of the key themes that will frame Canada’s presidency is “building a more peaceful and secure world.” As one of Ukraine’s staunchest international allies, Canada has a unique opportunity to leverage the G7 Presidency to support peace and security for Ukraine and the process of reforms currently under way in Ukraine.
For the meeting of G7 leaders in Charlevoix on June 8-9, Canada ought to:
1. Dedicate a specific event for G7 leaders at the Summit to restoring peace in Ukraine and ending Russia’s invasion and occupation of sovereign Ukrainian territory;
2. Work to ensure consensus in the G7 about the deployment of a UN peacekeeping mission to Ukraine throughout the entire territory of Russian-occupied Donbas, and develop a strategy to pressure the Russian Federation to accept such a mission;
3. Work to build consensus in the G7 for the imposition of more severe sanctions against the Russian Federation until such time as Russia’s occupation of Crimea and part of Donbas are ended; and
4. Work with G7 leaders to develop mechanisms for more effective coordination on support for Ukraine’s reform process.
According to the Vice President of LUC, Ihor Kozak, who testified on the crisis in Ukraine before the House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence: “The truth is that Ukraine remains the only real force standing between the Russian aggressors and the security and stability of Europe. Western leaders need to find the wisdom and strength to adopt a far-sighted strategy for the free world. This, among other things, means doing more, not less, to support Ukraine at this critical time. The Canadian people and governments have always been there to help the people of Ukraine. Today is no different. We are ready to answer the call.”
Therefore, I strongly urge you to support Canada taking a leadership role in the international community’s response to Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine.
