Deterring Russian Aggression Through Sanctions

"We cannot supply a terrorist state with the tools it needs to finance the killing of tens of thousands of innocent people."

"Over the past several days, the Ukrainian World Congress together with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress has been pleading with the Government of Canada to revoke the waiver provided to Siemens Canada which allows the return of repaired Nord Stream 1 turbines to Germany. We have also called upon the Government to ensure that all sanctions that have been imposed by Canada on Russia remain in place and are significantly enhanced."

"To date, our efforts have been unsuccessful, and we have had no choice but to take legal action.

Today in the Federal Court of Canada, the Ukrainian World Congress has filed a notice of application for judicial review together with Daniel Bilak, a Canadian citizen, practicing lawyer, and current resident of Ukraine."

Ukrainian World Congress

"The decision on the exception to sanctions will be perceived in Moscow exclusively as a manifestation of weakness. This is their logic."

"And now there can be no doubt that Russia will try not just to limit as much as possible, but to completely shut down the supply of gas to Europe at the most acute moment."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskii

"The decision of the Trudeau government to return the Siemens turbines to Russia following maintenance in Montreal, defying the government's own sanctions against Russia is] a slap in the face to the Ukrainian people."

"[The decision reflects] the logic of appeasement or compromise with a violent aggressor."

Conservative Member of Parliament, Garnett Genuis

Opposition Members of the Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons have demanded that senior government ministers appear before a special foreign affairs committee meeting to explain the decision by the Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to return repaired parts of Russian natural gas pipeline, Nordstream, back to Germany. Germany intends to hand the parts over to Russia in the hope that Moscow will ease restricting gas exports to Germany. 

Testimony from the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the ambassadors of Ukraine, Germany and the European Union to Canada is expected to be heard by the committee after an invitation was extended to all those concerned in the issue. The government's decision last week to exempt itself from its own sanctions on Russia and to permit turbines being serviced in Montreal to return to Russia insults Canada's own sanctions, in concert with NATO and the EU applying economic sanctions in an attempt to persuade Moscow to withdraw from the conflict it has imposed on Ukraine.

The Federal Court of Canada is being petitioned by the Ukrainian World Congress to uphold the sanctions regime and disallow the shipment. One that will enable the Kremlin to continue shipping out gas to its European customers hugely dependent on Russian gas and oil for their energy needs; in effect funding the conflict that has violently torn Ukraine apart, destroying huge swaths of its urban infrastructure, killing tens of thousands of Ukrainians, and creating immense population dislocation and refugees.

 

Investigators work on June 13, at the scene where bodies of civilians killed by Russian soldiers were found near the village of Myrotske in Bucha district. (Anna Opareniuk/Ukrinform/Abaca/Sipa USA)

 

Germany is frantic to have its imported gas from Russian state-owned energy company Gazprom restored after a reduction of gas deliveries from the Nord Stream 1 pipeline running to northeastern Germany. The 60 percent cut last month was explained by Moscow as representing turbine-related technical issues. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau citing harm to Canada's European friends has justified the return of the turbines, effectively increasing Russian pipeline operability, the sales funding its war.

An unctuous statement of self-defence by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz sanctimoniously explained that the return to normal flow of gas supplies to Germany will place the country in a position to continue supporting Ukraine with humanitarian, financial and military aid. In effect, Germany is both funding Russian violence in Ukraine, and giving aid to Ukraine to bandage the violence. 

The U.S. State Department appears complicit in this bizarre web of contradictions with its statement in support of the Canadian government's decision. Its explanation for its assent is that it would give Europe the opportunity to increase energy security and resiliency, while countering "Russia's efforts to weaponize energy". Leaving Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskii quite unimpressed, condemning the action as "absolutely unacceptable".

(Office of The President of Ukraine)

"Russia has shown its attitude to international law, to Europe, and to the entire civilized world."

"After that, no one can have any doubt that a Special Tribunal on Russian aggression against Ukraine is needed as soon as possible."

"[Confiscation of] all Russian assets and funds in all countries of the world [ should occur in order to compensate] for the victims of Russian terror." 

"It is absolutely necessary to implement as soon as possible such restrictions against Russian energy exports, which will not allow terrorists to cover their costs at the expense of the international community." 

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskii