A Friend In Need : From Canada to Ukraine, With Love

"We have hundreds of Russian tanks and armoured vehicles deployed along the Ukrainian border and in the occupied parts of Ukraine's territory."

"Facing the risk of a further Russian invasion, we need to defend our land."

"The United Kingdom and the United States have already shipped the military equipment and we would appreciate if Canada follows suit."

Ukrainian Embassy, Ottawa

"If a friend says, 'Look, I really need your help', the logical thing would be to say, 'Tell me what you need'."

"And so if the person says, 'I need to borrow your car', you can't say, 'I'll buy you a new suit'."

Aurel Braun, professor, University of Toronto, research associate, Centre for Russian and East European Studies

"Justin Trudeau failed to announce lethal defensive weapons for Ukraine, the use of Magnitsky sanctions, or RADARSAT imagery."

Deputy opposition whip, Conservative MP James Bezan

Vladimir Putin  Image: Kremlin.ru

Canada is home to the third largest presence of Ukrainians as citizens of the country, outside of Ukraine. A century and more ago Ukrainians settled in Western Canada as farmers and custodians of the land. They now live everywhere in Canada, taking part in every facet of Canadian life. Canada's deputy prime minister is of Ukrainian heritage. And Ukrainian-Canadians exert great influence, socially, culturally and politically in Canada.

As a result, Canada credibly has fairly close nation-to-nation relations with Ukraine. And the Trudeau government views itself under pressure in the current strained situation between NATO, the United States and Russia over Moscow's assumed threat of invasion of its former satellite under the USSR Communist collective. Canada has given Ukraine assurances of aid over the past seven years in view of Russian aggression.

And it committed to giving Ukraine non-lethal equipment to help modernize its creaking Soviet-era military equipment. As well, Canada has a small contingent of military training Ukrainian troops, and another group as part of the NATO mission in eastern Europe stationed in Latvia. Now, as pressure increases with Russia calling on its regional allies as it amasses troops on the border with Ukraine preparatory to a suspected invasion, Canada has announced a $120-million loan to Ukraine. 

For a defined purpose; to help support its "economic resilience and development". A condition comes with the loan, that Ukraine must not acquire any weapons or military equipment with the loan. In other words what Ukraine most needs at its time of dire necessity, it may not think of acquiring with the use of the Canadian loan; beneficence with strings attached.

 

Since 2014, 14,000 people have died in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Many people still cross the frontlines on a daily basis | (c) Ukrinform / Alamy Stock

 

"We have always been a friend to Ukraine, we will always be there with the necessary supports. Today, we're making a significant announcement of a $120-million loan, which is one of the top things the Ukrainian government has been asking for from Canada", announced Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Well no, not exactly, the conceit that the loan is a significant amount, the interpretation of its fulfilling a need expressed by Ukraine, is entirely off base.

"We needed to send a strong message to the international community, and fast. Ukraine also needed a strong signal to demonstrate that the international community believes in their financial stability", explained a source in the Liberal party, delusional over Canada's purported influence within the international community. As in: Canada is leading the international community in coming to Ukraine's aid...

People walk through the streets of Kyiv, January 19, 2022