OTTAWA, Canada – Mélanie Joly, minister of foreign affairs, concluded a productive trip to Finland, Germany and Belgium, during which she met with multiple partners and NATO Allies to advance shared priorities and to discuss Canada’s ongoing response to president Vladimir Putin’s illegal and unjustifiable war in Ukraine, reports, Global Affairs Canada.
“While in Europe, the minister also announced additional sanctions to hold close associates of the Russian and Belarusian regimes accountable for their barbaric actions against the Ukrainian people. Throughout her visit, minister Joly coordinated efforts with her counterparts to support vulnerable populations in Ukraine and the region – highlighted Canada’s steadfast commitment to peace and stability in the Arctic and the Indo-Pacific.”
In Helsinki, Finland, minister Joly reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening Canada-Finland bilateral cooperation. Minister Joly met with Pekka Haavisto, Finland’s minister of foreign affairs, and they reinforced Canada and Finland’s strong support for Ukraine and the need for continued collaboration to deter Russian hostilities. They also issued a joint Canada-Finland statement on bilateral cooperation highlighting key issues, such as how to address a host of challenges affecting the Arctic and North.
In Berlin, Germany, the minister met with Annalena Baerbock Germany’s minister of foreign affairs, and Nicu Popescu, Moldova’s deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and European Integration, to discuss security and humanitarian issues in Eastern Europe. Minister Joly also attended the Moldova Support Platform Conference, where she underscored Canada’s commitment to supporting Moldova and assisting refugees fleeing Ukraine as a result of the Russian regime’s unprovoked and unjustifiable invasion.
While in Brussels, Belgium, minister Joly met with her G7 and NATO counterparts; together they learned of the latest developments in Ukraine directly from Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. Minister Joly spoke of the growing humanitarian crisis, the need for greater cooperation amongst Allies, and for continued sanctions against the Russian regime.
Minister Joly also discussed global security challenges with NATO’s Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Partners, whose participation underlines the global implications of Russia’s invasion. NATO members also agreed to deepen their cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners on additional shared challenges, including malicious cyber activities and disinformation.
“Through his unjustifiable war on Ukraine, President Putin is undermining the security and stability of the entire world. We are inspired by the courage and resolve of the Ukrainian people and we will not allow President Putin’s illegal actions to go unpunished. We will continue using all tools at our disposal as we coordinate with our allies and partners in responding to Putin’s aggression,’’ said minister Joly.
