After his visit to the USA and Canada, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made stops in Poland and Ireland on his way home.
In Lublin, Poland, he thanked the population of the NATO and EU country for their support of Ukraine’s defense against the Russian invasion. “I believe that all the challenges on our common path are nothing compared to the strength that exists between our peoples,” Zelensky said in a video on his Telegram channel. In Lublin he also presented Ukrainian awards to a journalist and a paramedic.
Recently, a dispute between Kiev and Warsaw over the Polish import ban on Ukrainian grain came to a head – and is now also affecting the allies’ military cooperation. Poland now wants to limit its arms deliveries to Ukraine to contracts that have already been concluded.
Thanks in front of Canada’s Parliament
Zelenskyj had previously thanked Ottawa for the support during his first visit to Canada since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression – and was assured of further help. During his visit, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a “long-term, multi-year commitment to Zelensky that will deliver predictable, sustained support for Ukraine.” This included, among other things, 50 armored vehicles over the next three years and money to support mental health care.
In a speech to parliament, which was met with standing applause and cheers, Zelensky thanked Ottawa profusely for the help so far. “Canada’s support of Ukraine with weapons and equipment has enabled us to save thousands of lives,” said the president, who was accompanied by his wife Olena Zelenska. “Russian aggression must end with our victory, so that Russia can never bring genocide to Ukraine again and never tries to do so again. Moscow must lose once and for all,” said Zelensky, who appeared on video in March 2022 Canadian Parliament had spoken.
Trudeau received Zelenskyj at Parliament. Trudeau said it was a “very exciting day for Canada” and he was pleased to be able to personally convey Canadians’ “strong and unequivocal support” to Zelensky. The Ukrainian President, in turn, conveyed the thanks of the Ukrainians to him.
First visit to Canada since the start of the war
This is Zelenskyj’s first visit to Canada since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 – and the third stop on his North American trip. Zelenskyj arrived in New York on Monday for the UN General Assembly and visited Washington on Thursday, where he was received by US President Joe Biden at the White House, among others. The additional stop in Canada was surprisingly announced on Friday night.
Part of his mission at previous stops was to convince war-weary skeptics of his course and to explain why talks with Moscow are unthinkable for him at this point. Zelensky appeared less demanding than on previous occasions and, above all, emphasized his gratitude.
