The Speech by Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on 10 June 2023

My dear friends, welcome! It is a great pleasure for me to be back with you! I am extremely glad to see all of you and extremely pleased to be greeted in return. It is a great honour for Canadians – and not just for me – to be welcomed here today in this place. In Canada, we have two official languages, so I will be speaking in both English and French, and I ask you to use your translation headphones.

Standing here before you today in the heart of Ukrainian democracy, my thoughts are first and foremost for the benefit of the Ukrainian communities that you represent and serve. My thoughts go out to Ukraine’s brave soldiers, to the young volunteers who sell homemade pastries to raise money for drones. I pray for the farmers who continue to work the land even when a neighbouring state threatens them with shelling and bombing in order to grow bread. I express our gratitude to the doctors and nurses who continue to treat patients even when their hospitals are bombed. And they all believe in one simple ideal, which is that Ukrainians are free to choose their own future. (Applause)

At home, I always say that democracy does not happen by chance. And that is why we continue our efforts to support Ukraine. I am convinced that Ukrainians know this better than anyone else.  Just as I am convinced that effort, courage and sacrifice [are important], especially when multiplied together, since the day you declared your independence more than 30 years ago, and I am proud that Canada was one of the first countries to recognise your independence back in December 1991.

The courage and sacrifice of ten years ago, during Euromaidan and the Revolution of Dignity, after the then President refused to sign the agreement with the European Union that was overwhelmingly adopted here in the Parliament, and the courage with which you faced putin’s brutal aggression and took up the fight. By invading Ukraine, russia has trampled on the principles and rules which the United Nations is built on.

Peace, stability and prosperity – what the world has enjoyed for more than 75 years since the last war – are now distorted by putin’s brutal and vandalistic choices. And now you are not only fighting for your survival, you are fighting for the survival of freedom, democracy, and the right to self-determination. You are also fighting for borders to matter, even if your neighbour on the other side of the border has a different vision of your borders, and when they have a bigger army, even though their army is at least bigger than yours. And the world cannot overestimate the existential importance of your struggle.

By fighting for Ukraine, you are fighting for your homes, culture, language, and identity. But at the same time, you are fighting for the future of all of us. The brave people of Ukraine, and the bravery of the people of Ukraine, have proven that democracy is worth dying for and makes us strong enough to win.

In 30, 50 or 80 years in the future, other generations of children will study your story in their textbooks. And we hope that those textbooks will convey the significance and greatness of your victories, which will stand alongside such victories as the Normandy landings. But more than that, it will be noted that it was Ukraine that shaped the future of the twenty-first century. (Applause)

And that is why Canada will continue to stand with you for as long and as strong as it takes. vladimir putin made a serious miscalculation when he launched an unjustified aggression against Ukraine. And the presence of President Zelenskyi at this summit (ed. – G7 Summit in Hiroshima) and other summits has had a great impact on society.

During this time, Canada has trained 36,000 Ukrainian soldiers. Since the beginning of the brutal invasion, Canada has provided $8 billion to Ukraine, of which $1 billion was earmarked for military assistance.

We have offered more than $2 billion in loans to support Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction. And today I also announced that we will provide $500 million in new funding for military assistance.

In addition, Canada will be part of an international effort to train Ukrainian pilots as part of the military pilot training so that they can defend Ukraine in the air as well. And it should be Ukraine’s choice how to defend itself and how to defend its people. And that’s why Canada will fully support Ukraine’s cooperation with NATO in order to support Ukraine’s accession to NATO as soon as circumstances allow.

We all want Ukraine to be victorious, and we all want this war to end as soon as possible. We all want peace, peace for Ukrainians, but peace on Ukrainian terms. russia must fully, immediately and unconditionally withdraw all of its armed forces from the territory of Ukraine!

And, of course, Canada supports Ukraine’s initiative for a just and sustainable peace on the basis of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Last week I read the story of a Ukrainian soldier with the call sign “Cadet”. He joined the army just the day after he turned 18, and it was the fourth day of russia’s invasion of Ukraine. When he has a free moment, he plays mobile games on his smartphone if he finds internet access in the trenches, and he is one of Ukraine’s heroes.

But my eldest son is 15, and despite the fact that he is already taller than me, I cannot imagine that in a few years he will also be fighting. When children and families live all over Ukraine in such conditions, it is extremely difficult to even imagine, but nevertheless, it is all part of our reality: what you do, why you do it and how you do it. Every time I hear from Volodymyr [Zelenskyi] about what’s going on, every time I hear from Chrystia [Freeland] about how her family is doing here in Ukraine, or when I hear from Canadians about their family living in Ukraine, it all becomes a reality.

Canada will continue to help and bring its assistance. Since the beginning of last year, Canada has taken in a quarter of a million Ukrainians. These are people who did not want to leave Ukraine, they all love their country and, of course, they hope to return as soon as possible. But while they are here, we, Canadians, are helping them. We give them jobs, assistance, language courses – everything that will help them pass this difficult test with dignity.

I visited St Demetrius School in Toronto, where more than a hundred Ukrainian children are currently studying. Teachers and classmates have collected clothes, textbooks and hygiene kits for them to provide not only for their families but also to give to their neighbours. Additionally, libraries, local churches, community centres and a whole network is being set up to ensure that Ukrainians are allowed to move in emergency circumstances, to access such assistance, to access medical, social and psychological help, to continue their education and thus support Ukraine’s ability to continue to fight. And again, we all know about the special bond between our countries, it’s nothing new, as Canadians and Ukrainians have been coming from the same roots for many years.

In 1891, Ivan Pylypiv and Vasyl Yelynyak were the first Ukrainians to arrive in Canada, and many more followed in their footsteps and settled on Canadian soil. For many years, they cultivated the land and built churches that are crowned with magnificent domes. And now the landscapes of Canada are extremely similar to those of Ukraine – with golden fields and clear blue skies, like the colours of your flag. And it is thanks to Ukrainians that Canada has reached the level of prosperity and achievements that has helped it take its rightful place among other athletes, scientists and politicians. In particular, a great example of this is Chrystia Freeland, who represents our Government today. (Applause)

Ukrainians have helped us build our country over the generations. And all Canadians will be grateful in return and will help you and future generations of Ukrainians rebuild in return.

When I saw that the National Bank of Ukraine had issued a commemorative medal with a Canadian flag on the back, I realised that it was really worth it, because we are not doing this for the sake of a currency, not for a nice word of thanks, but because we really respect you. And it was Canada that was the first in the Group of Seven to pass the proper legislation that allows us to officially seize and use the funds to compensate Ukraine for the damage that is being done by our russian neighbour.

Moreover, last spring, a [russian] Antonov 124 aircraft landed at Toronto International Airport. As soon as it landed, it was immediately arrested. And today, I want to announce that we have arrested this powerful aircraft in order to do everything we can to ensure that it never supports russia’s war again. And this is a moment when the consequences for Ukraine are immeasurable, but the consequences for the future of the world are equally immeasurable.

putin and the pandemic have shown democracies the risks of economic dependence on dictatorships. Antagonistic powers use our economic interdependence for their own geopolitical advantage.

The democratic world should no longer be at the mercy of any country that can simply turn off the taps to harm our citizens.

That is why we are working with our partners and allies to build a new consensus.

Investing in energy and resource supplies through trusted, reliable partners is not just about protecting our energy security and our economy.

It is about building a world where undemocratic, brutal regimes cannot benefit from an energy and supply chain crisis caused by their own crimes.

It is about strengthening countries that respect rules-based trade and order.

putin has acted with incredible brutality and used energy and food as weapons, causing hardship around the world.

Food insecurity is being felt most acutely by the most vulnerable, especially in the Global South.

World hunger, which has been quiet for so many years, has reared its head again thanks to vladimir putin. Before the war, Ukraine supplied the world market with about 45 million tonnes of grain per year. Today, russia restricts grain exports from Ukraine.

To those who believe that they can still fix things, or that the only way to win is to fight others. To those who think that geopolitics is a zero-stakes game of chance, we want to say: Enough is enough! This is a clear choice that the world now has before it and that it has made. And this choice is extremely clear – democracy, where the rule of law prevails, where development is shared by different peoples, where diversity is respected, where the middle class gets all the proper opportunities for its development, where citizens choose their own destiny – as opposed to autocracy, where the right of the strong dominates, where tyrants have unlimited power, and authoritarian regimes have no thought for their own people or for other peoples. And this choice is absolutely clear, it is only becoming clearer every day.

Our collective success is completely intertwined with the success of others, international law and the fundamental principles and values that build our world are fair to everyone, but the frameworks we impose on top of that can prevent that. Only stability allows all of us to prosper around the world, and that is why the nations, democracies and economies that are developing in Asia, in Africa, in other regions of our planet that are fighting colonialism, they are all part of our struggle, your struggle, which we support. And that is the message that Canada is sending to all of its partners around the world.

In terms of Canada’s allies, Canada does have some of the most powerful ties in the world, 21 members of OPEC, 31 members of the United Nations, members of other organisations. We will be spreading the same message everywhere, that we need to help Ukraine, to fight for these values, because Canada understands what we are talking about.

My friends, I continue to be amazed and inspired by your resilience and courage. You have stood up to putin’s threat since the beginning of his invasion. You have raised the whole world to stand with you, and you have not thought for a single moment of giving up, and neither have we.

Last year, before the President Zelenskyi addressed the Canadian Parliament, I said that democracies around the world are lucky to have him as their champion. I still stand by those words. And today, I can say the same thing to all of you here in person, face to face: thank you for fighting for democracy.

And, as parliamentarians, your work is extremely important, because democracy needs strong institutions like the Verkhovna Rada, believe me when I say that. I am the head of the Government of Canada, but I also have, under our system, the incredible privilege of being a member of parliament among 337 others.

I know how important the work that you do day in and day out to serve the people, to fight for the people is. (Applause)

Democracy is the way of life we have chosen. It doesn’t happen by accident and it won’t last without more support, so let’s be clear: no dictator can take that choice away from us.

Citizens should be free to choose their leaders and their future. People everywhere should be able to express their opinions freely without being arbitrarily imprisoned. Governments must be transparent and accountable, and they must treat people with the respect and dignity they deserve. These are the values that are at stake. And that is what you stand for every day on the frontline.

Today, as I visit your country again during this terrible war, I see the grief and devastation with my own eyes. But one thing I also see is extraordinary courage and hope. Here, behind me, and above this building – the House of the Ukrainian people – is your blue and yellow flag. Ukraine stands and will stand.

According to the great Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko, Ukraine will always be a “free family”. Because neither bombs, nor bullets, nor aggressors will ever take away your desire for freedom and pride in your culture, your language, your history and your future as Ukrainians.

Thank you!

Glory to Ukraine!