NDP calls for more support for Ukraine ahead of President Zelenskyy’s visit

Canada’s NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh made the following statement:

“New Democrats are honoured to welcome President Zelenskyy to Ottawa today. Canadians stand with Ukraine and Ukrainians in their fight against Putin’s horrific invasion and genocide. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians have been murdered and hundreds of thousands displaced. Through it all, Ukrainians are defending themselves and their country with courage and love. They are fighting for all of us – for democracy, for international law, and for justice.

Canada can and must do more to end this war and bring the peace Ukrainians so deserve.

We support strong sanctions to hold Putin’s oligarch friends accountable for their complicity in the war and to send a strong signal that Canada is not a financial haven for war criminals. But the Liberal government has been slow to seize assets and has refused to provide the transparency Canadians have asked for.

It was the NDP who brought forward a motion in Parliament to declare Putin's acts in Ukraine a genocide. Russian officials must face justice for their crimes against humanity – including the abduction of Ukrainian children, horrifying sexual violence, and targeting of civilians. New Democrats are calling on Canada to provide far more funding to investigate and prosecute these crimes.

We will continue to pressure this government to fix its sanction regime, ensure Canadian humanitarian assistance reaches the most vulnerable, increase support for demining efforts, and commit to nuclear disarmament. We need to make sure that all those fleeing violence can call Canada home. And Canada must pledge long-term support for Ukrainians to rebuild their country.

Today we commemorate the immense bravery of the people of Ukraine who are fighting for peace, justice and democracy. It is our collective responsibility to do everything possible to help end this war.”