OTTAWA/CMEDIA: Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reportedly meet in Halifax today ahead of Trump’s peace talks in Florida.
On his way to Florida for meetings with Donald Trump, who is trying to broker an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine, Zelenskyy’s stop in Canada follows a phone call between him and Carney on Friday.
Zelenskyy said in a statement that he updated the prime minister “on the status of our diplomatic efforts with the United States” to bring the Russian war in Ukraine to an end.
Having been a staunch supporter of Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, Canada in February 2022, committed $6.5 billion in military support along with humanitarian aid.
Zelenskyy has said that although the U.S-backed peace plan is about 90 percent ready, sticking points remain on security guarantees and other issues.
After speaking with Carney, Zelenskyy said in a social media post that he believes much can be accomplished between Ukraine and the U.S., though he accused Russia of dragging its feet and trying to waste time.
“In the coming days, much can be accomplished both bilaterally between Ukraine and the United States…It is critical that we jointly and constructively bolster Ukraine’s ability to protect life…Right now, it is Russia that is dragging its feet and trying to waste time,”Zelenskyy said, referencing the 35-nation group of Ukraine-friendly countries that includes Canada.
“The prime minister affirmed Canada’s commitment to Ukraine throughout these negotiations and emphasized the need to maintain pressure on Russia to negotiate,” Carney said in a statement Friday.
Zelenskyy said earlier this week that as part of a plan to end the war, he would be willing to withdraw troops from Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland provided Russia also pulls back and the area becomes a demilitarized zone monitored by international forces.
