Ukraine’s Zelensky addresses Canadian parliament, tells it to imagine Vancouver, Toronto under attack
- In a historic address, the Ukrainian president again calls for Nato to impose a no-fly zone to defend his country against Russian attacks
- ‘Can you imagine the CN Tower in Toronto if it was hit by Russian bombs? I don’t wish that on anyone, but this is the reality we face’
Zelensky, delivering the first virtual address to the House of Commons in Ottawa, said that while he was grateful for Canada’s support since Russia’s invasion of his country, “you all need to do more”.
“We are not asking for much … please imagine how important it is to close our airspace,” he said.
Ukraine has extensive historical links with Canada, which is home to the world’s third largest population of ethnic Ukrainians, behind Ukraine and Russia. More than 1.3 million Canadians claim Ukrainian heritage.
Justin, can you imagine, you or your children hearing these explosions? Can you imagine that?
Zelensky, who made his 12-minute address from an undisclosed location against a plain backdrop with a Ukrainian flag, framed his remarks by directly asking Trudeau to picture an invasion of Canada, describing missile strikes, troop incursions and attacks on civilians.
“Justin, can you imagine, you or your children hearing these explosions? Can you imagine that?” Zelensky said.
“Imagine people laying siege to Vancouver … can you imagine the CN Tower in Toronto if it was hit by Russian bombs? I don’t wish that on anyone, but this is the reality we face.”
Ukraine invasion: Zelensky asks Britain to label Russia ‘terrorist state’
Zelensky then turned to his repeated request for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine.
“Can you imagine asking your friends to please close the skies?” he said. “How many more cruise missile have to fall on the cities … and they tell you to please hold on.”
Ukraine is not a member of Nato, an alliance of 30 member states that includes Canada.
Trudeau has resisted the declaration of a no-fly zone or other direct military intervention since Russia’s February 24 invasion, stances that are in line with other Nato leaders.
In a press conference this month, Trudeau said: “The thing that we have so far avoided, and we’ll continue to need to avoid, is putting a situation in which Nato forces are in direct conflict with Russian soldiers.”
Canada has promised to settle an “unlimited” number of displaced Ukrainians and has established a new visa system for that purpose. Trudeau has not ruled out an airlift of Ukrainian refugees.
Canada’s government has also imposed sanctions on dozens of Russian individuals and entities, including members of the Russian Security Council and a series of Russian billionaires close to President Vladimir Putin and his government.
On Tuesday, before Zelensky’s address, Canada extended sanctions to 15 more Russian officials. “Canada will not hesitate to take further action should the Russian leadership fail to change course,” Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said.
Canada has also sent or pledged military aid including anti-tank weapons, thousands of handheld rocket launchers and two C-130 aircraft.
Also on Tuesday, Russia announced a travel ban on Trudeau, Joly and Canada’s defence minister, Anita Anand.
In remarks after Zelensky’s speech, Canadian opposition leader Candice Bergen called Putin a “warmonger and violent predator”.
She said Canada needed to help secure Ukraine’s airspace, “at a minimum” over humanitarian corridors for fleeing civilians.
Bergen, the interim head of the Conservative Party, said Putin needed to “face justice” in the International Criminal Court in The Hague, ending her remarks by saying, “glory to Ukraine … keep fighting”.
In an address to Britain’s House of Commons last week, Zelensky asked the United Kingdom to “make sure Ukrainian skies are safe” and called on Britain to label Russia a “terrorist state” over the carnage in Ukraine.
Zelensky will address a joint session of the US Congress on Wednesday.
