Statement on the two-year anniversary of the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia

NDP Foreign Affairs critic Heather McPherson (Edmonton Strathcona) issued the following statement:

"Today, two years since Putin launched his illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine, New Democrats reaffirm our solidarity with Ukraine and Ukrainians.

Putin’s brutal genocide has killed and injured tens of thousands of Ukrainians and displaced hundreds of thousands more. Ukrainians have lost their loved ones and their homes and have watched in horror as their cities burn.

Through it all, Ukrainians have defended themselves and their country with courage, and love. They are heroically fighting for all of us - for democracy, international law, and a world order based on justice and accountability. Their spirit and resilience in the face of this genocide shine bright.

Canadians stand with Ukraine.

We stand with the Ukrainians who are defending their country and with those who have been forced to flee. We stand with the Ukrainian-Canadians who are deeply worried for their friends and family. And we stand for democracy and against the violence and genocide that Putin has brought to Europe.

While Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives show weakening support for Ukraine – voting en masse against the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement – New Democrats continue to push the Canadian government to do more for Ukrainians.

We have called on Canada to strengthen the transparency and enforcement of its sanctions regime and also impose further sanctions on Putin’s oligarchs. The Liberals have been slow to impose sanctions and failed to seize Russian assets. This must change.

We support international justice efforts to hold Russia accountable for its many violations of international law, including but not limited to aggression, crimes against humanity, sexual and gender-based violence, and abduction of children.

Canadian support for demining efforts is essential to making Ukrainian land safe, and this funding must continue. But Canada has been unable to explain how Canadian-made detonators sold to Kyrgyzstan ended up in the hands of Russia and potentially used in the Ukraine war. And with new reports that Canadian components are being used in mass drone attacks in Ukraine, we demand Canada urgently fix its export controls.

In the years to come, Ukrainians will continue to need humanitarian support and, eventually, support to rebuild. Canada must be there for them now and in the future, to help ensure peace and stability for Ukrainians who have already suffered so much.

And Canada must end its silence on nuclear disarmament. In this terrifying and dangerous moment, we must all recommit to rid the world of nuclear weapons.

Today, and every day, New Democrats stand for peace, justice, and democracy for Ukraine, and for all."