Government of Canada’s response to the situation in Ukraine

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OTTAWA — The Government of Canada is taking important steps to support Ukraine and to impose sanctions against those responsible for the ongoing crisis.

January 26, 2014
Andrew Bennett, Canada’s Ambassador for Religious Freedom, led a successful visit to Ukraine, during which he expressed Canada’s ongoing concern about violations of basic freedoms and reinforced Canada’s commitment to the Ukrainian people.

February 14, 2014
John Baird, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced funding to provide supplies, equipment and medical care for Ukrainian activists through a contribution to the International Renaissance Foundation, a Ukrainian non-governmental organization.

February 28, 2014
Minister Baird led a successful mission to Ukraine, where he and the Canadian delegation of parliamentarians and representatives of the Ukrainian-Canadian community met with key members of the new government.

March 1, 2014
In response to the very serious developments in Ukraine, Prime Minister Stephen Harper convened a meeting of Cabinet Ministers, preceded by a bilateral phone call with President Obama. In a statement, the Prime Minister announced:

Canada suspended its engagement in preparation for the G-8 Summit, currently planned for Sochi, and that the Canadian Ambassador in Russia is being recalled for consultations;
Canada’s support for the immediate deployment of international monitors from the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe to Ukraine; and, Canada’s engagement in discussions aimed at developing a financial aid package for Ukraine.

March 2, 2014
Canada and other G-7 leaders issued a joint statement condemning the Russian Federation’s clear violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. In addition, they announced that they will “suspend our participation in activities associated with the preparation of the scheduled G-8 Summit in Sochi in June, until the environment comes back to where the G-8 is able to have a meaningful discussion.”

March 3, 2014
Prime Minister Harper issued a statement once again calling on President Putin to immediately withdraw his military from Crimea, adding that the situation in Ukraine remains extremely serious for global peace and security. He added that he has cancelled government representation at the Paralympic Games and instructed officials to review all planned bilateral interaction with Russia.

Prime Minister Harper spoke with Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Prime Minister of Ukraine, about developments in Crimea and other regions in the south and east of Ukraine. Prime Minister Harper condemned in the strongest terms President Putin’s military intervention in Ukraine.

March 4, 2014
Prime Minister Harper announced that, effective immediately, all planned bilateral activities between the Canadian Armed Forces and the military of the Russian Federation are suspended. This includes exercises, such as NORAD’s Exercise Vigilant Eagle, and scheduled meetings.

March 5, 2014
Prime Minister Harper announced that, at the request of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Canada will freeze the assets of members of the Yanukovych regime. As a result, 18 people, including members of the former Yanukovych regime, members of their families, and their close associates, were listed in regulations under the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act.

Canada also suspended its participation in the Canada-Russia Intergovernmental Economic Commission.

Prime Minister Harper announced that at Ukraine’s request, Canada, along with a number of other member countries of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, will participate in a military observer mission that will report on military activities in Ukraine. Canada contributed two military observers.

March 6, 2014
Prime Minister Harper issued a statement saying that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is an act of aggression, a clear violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty, and of international law. He further added that Canada will not recognize a referendum held in a region currently under illegal military occupation.

March 12, 2014
G-7 leaders issued a statement calling on the Russian Federation to cease all efforts to change the status of Crimea contrary to Ukrainian law and in violation of international law. They called on the Russian Federation to immediately halt actions supporting a referendum on the territory of Crimea regarding its status, in direct violation of the Constitution of Ukraine.

Canada PM Stephen Harper in Kiev, Ukraine. Photo courtesy of Harper’s official Facebook page.

March 13, 2014
Prime Minister Harper announced more than $220 million in support to help Ukraine stabilize its economy and promote economic and social development. The support will be provided in the form of a loan or loan guarantee, conditional on a broader package that includes International Monetary Fund (IMF) support for Ukraine. million of this commitment will assist the IMF in delivering technical assistance to help Ukraine manage its economic transition and financial sector reforms.

March 16, 2014
Prime Minister Harper issued a statement on the results of the Crimean “referendum”, reiterating that this “referendum” is illegitimate, has no legal effect, and that Canada does not recognize its outcome.

March 17, 2014
Prime Minister Harper announced further economic sanctions under the Special Economic Measures Act and additional travel bans against Ukrainian and Russian officials.

The Prime Minister also met with Vadym Prystaiko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada, to discuss the ongoing situation.

March 18, 2014
Prime Minister Harper announced economic sanctions and travel bans against an additional 17 Ukrainian and Russian officials responsible for undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and for facilitating Russian military action against Ukraine.

March 21, 2014
Prime Minister Harper announced economic sanctions against 14 additional Russian officials and one financial institution, Bank Rossiya. Travel bans were also imposed on these 14 individuals.

March 22, 2014
Prime Minister Harper concluded a visit to Ukraine where he met with Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. He also announced Canada’s contribution of $775, 000 to a political and security monitoring mission to Ukraine, led by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

March 24, 2014
Prime Minister Harper, meeting with other G-7 leaders in The Hague, issued the Hague Declaration. In the Declaration, the leaders announced that they will not attend a planned G-8 Summit in Sochi but will instead convene as a G-7, without Russia, in Brussels in June 2014. They also reaffirmed their “support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence” while condemning “Russia’s illegal attempt to annex Crimea.”

March 27, 2014
Canada co-sponsored a resolution on Ukraine at the UN General Assembly. The resolution – supported by 100 member-States, with only 11 voting against – reaffirmed Ukraine’s sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, and underscored the invalidity of the referendum in Crimea.

April 12, 2014
Minister Baird announced that Canada is imposing sanctions on two additional individuals and on a Crimean oil and gas company, Chornomornaftogaz.

April 17, 2014
Prime Minister Harper announced that Canada is offering the following capabilities to enhance the readiness of NATO allies: six Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 fighter aircrafts and up to 20 staff officers to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers in Europe to assist NATO planning efforts.

April 23, 2014
In the lead up to Ukraine’s presidential elections, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced $11 million that will support 500 observers travelling to Ukraine to monitor the upcoming presidential elections.

April 25, 2014
Canada and other G-7 leaders issued a joint statement expressing deep concern at the continued efforts by separatists backed by Russia to destabilize Eastern Ukraine. Leaders also committed to taking further steps to ensure a peaceful and stable environment for the May 25 presidential election.

April 28, 2014
Prime Minister Harper announced economic sanctions against nine additional Russians and two Russian banks. Travel bans were also imposed on the nine individuals.

Rob Nicholson, Minister of National Defence, also announced that the six CF-18 fighter aircraft will leave on April 29 for Romania as part of the Government of Canada’s contributions to NATO measures to reassure Allies in Central and Eastern Europe.

April 30, 2014
Prime Minister Harper announced that Canada will commit the HMCS Regina, currently deployed in the Arabian Sea, to NATO Standing Maritime Forces to further demonstrate support for Alliance solidarity.

Canada PM Stephen Harper in Kiev, Ukraine. Photo courtesy of Harper’s official Facebook page.

May 2, 2014
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that Canadian Army soldiers are taking part in Exercise ORZEL ALERT in Swidwin, Poland, from May 5 to 9 as part of NATO reassurance measures in Central and Eastern Europe.

May 4, 2014
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced economic sanctions against 16 additional Russian entities.

May 12, 2014
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced economic sanctions and travel bans against an additional 12 Ukrainian and Russian individuals.

May 20, 2014
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that Senator Raynell Andreychuk and former Ontario Premier Mike Harris would lead the Canadian bilateral election observation mission to Ukraine, joining hundreds of Canadian election observers arriving in Ukraine.

May 27, 2014
Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a statement congratulating Petro Poroshenko on the results of the May 25th presidential elections in Ukraine.

June 2, 2014
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that he would be travelling to Kyiv, Ukraine, on June 7, 2014, to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Petro Poroshenko as the new President of Ukraine.

June 7, 2014
Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a statement from Kyiv, Ukraine, on the occasion of the swearing-in of Petro Poroshenko as President of Ukraine.

June 21, 2014
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced further economic sanctions and travel bans against 11 Russian and Ukrainian individuals plus one additional entity.

June 27, 2014
Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a news release welcoming the signing of the remaining chapters of the European Union (EU)-Ukraine Association Agreement which provide for a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area between the EU and Ukraine.

July 9-11, 2014
Minister Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, led a Canadian delegation on a three-day trade and development mission to Ukraine to demonstrate Canada’s continued support for the country. Minister Fast met with Ukrainian Economic Development and Trade Minister Pavlo Sheremeta to discuss ways to advance the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement, and announced $100,000 to support Ukraine’s Economic Advisory Council.

July 11, 2014
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced additional economic sanctions and travel bans against 14 individuals.

July 11, 2014
Minister Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, on behalf of Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, announced $19.6 million in Canadian support to train horticultural farmers to improve agricultural practices and have better access to financing and new markets in Ukraine.

July 17, 2014
Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a statement in response to the downing of a Malaysia Airlines passenger aircraft in eastern Ukraine.

July 21, 2014
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the intent to implement economic sanctions against a broad range of entities related to various Russian sectors.

July 23, 2014
Parliamentary Secretary James Bezan and MP Ted Opitz, on behalf of Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, announced $3.2 million in Canadian support to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Human Rights Training for Judges project to strengthen the justice system and rule of law in Ukraine.

July 24, 2014
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced new economic sanctions and travel bans against Ukrainian individuals, as well as economic sanctions against Ukrainian entities and a broad range of entities related to various Russian sectors.

July 26, 2014
Prime Minister Stephen Harper wrote an opinion-editorial published in The Globe and Mail newspaper titled “Our duty is to stand firm in the face of Russian aggression.”

July 29, 2014
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the intent to impose additional sanctions on Russia.