Canada has not even sent a cabinet. Ukraine observed. “Of course when you see a friend, an ally… present in the capital, that would mean a lot,” said Andriy Shevchenko, who until recently was Ukraine’s ambassador to Canada. It is not just a matter of a visit. Twenty-seven states have reopened diplomatic missions in Kyiv – but the Canadian embassy in Kyiv remains locked, evacuated before the start of the war. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen walks with Bucha Mayor Anatoly Fedoruk during a visit to the city of Bucha outside Kyiv on April 8. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has visited Bucha, a mass grave site in the wake of the Russian invasion. (Valentyn Ogirenko / Reuters)
“Canada was one of the first countries to move the embassy out. We do not want Canada to be the last to return,” Shevchenko said. Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said plans were under way to reopen. “We have to make sure that the security situation on the ground allows it,” her office said in a statement. Others have moved faster. Poland and Georgia never left. Italy and the Netherlands reopened their mission, as did the United Kingdom. “Kyiv is” the right place to be, “the British ambassador told The Guardian. With the largest Ukrainian diaspora outside the former Soviet Union, Canada has claimed to be one of Kiev’s biggest supporters, making the absence of a high-profile visit and an open embassy even more enigmatic to some. The office of Prime Minister Justin Trinto did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but said in a statement that he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “remain in frequent contact, except for regular contact with the Ukrainian government.” .

Why a visit is important

Many VIP visits to the Ukrainian capital include stops north of the city where Russia has left traces of disaster on its frustrated northern front. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited Bucha, the mass grave site, and Irpin, a lush suburb outside the capital, where half the buildings were demolished during the initial Russian invasion. INSIDE The UN Secretary-General is touring Ukraine as the fighting continues:

UN chief meets with Zelensky, touches damage in Ukraine

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss a plan to evacuate trapped civilians in Mariupol shortly after he saw firsthand the damage caused by Russian troops near Kyiv. 2:38
At a joint news conference concluding the visit, Zelensky said the leaders “should be here and I am grateful to the Secretary-General who came to Kyiv.” Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov visited the ruins of the burning Irpin and told a CBC News crew that it was imperative for world leaders to visit because “it’s very different when you make public statements from the comfort of your office. It’s very different to you see it first hand. “

Canada’s contributions to Ukraine

Since the outbreak of the last chapter in nearly a decade of ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the federal government has pledged support. This process escalated after the February invasion. However, some countries were much more generous with the size of their economies. Poland, for example, accounts for close to 1 percent of its total GDP in contributions of both financial and military support. Canada was not ranked in the top 12 donors in a tRacker was founded by the University of Kiel in Germany in late March. Since then, Canada has pledged an additional $ 500 million in support. The Biden government has asked for additional US $ 33 billion in aid to Ukraine, the majority for the purchase or transfer of military equipment. US and Canadian troops train Ukrainian soldiers – outside of Ukraine – in the use of advanced M777 projectiles with a range of 30 km. When equipped with high-precision Excalibur shells, it is accurate at a distance of 10 meters. “We greatly appreciate all Canadian aid, weapons and military training and financial support,” said former ambassador Shevchenko. Canada has given Ukraine four of these large weapons. Australia, with a smaller population, offered six. The US transported 90. European countries have also bought or shipped military equipment from their own stockpiles, although they risk more than Russian retaliation. Many are still dependent on Russian gas to fuel their savings. Poland and Bulgaria were cut off last week. Others may follow. Canada, however, is not dependent on Russian gas and, because of its geography, is less vulnerable to Russian orbit.