News.Kyiv.Me.

New Canadian FM seeks to allay policy shift fears during visit to Kyiv

Canadian Foreign Minister Stephane Dion (Getty Images)

Canada seeks closer ties with Kremlin?

Ukraine’s new Liberal Foreign Minister Stephane Dion said Canada will seek closer relations with Kremlin despite deep tensions over Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and invasion of Ukraine.

Last October the Liberals defeated the Conservatives, who had cut most high-level ties with Moscow and slapped sanctions on Russian firms, officials and business executives in response to the actions of Russian-backed militants in Ukraine.

Watch also Canada to help Ukraine’s army counter ‘modern challenges and threats’

“If we don’t engage with Russia we don’t help Ukraine (and) we don’t help Canada’s interests,” Dion told a foreign policy forum. Canada and Russia both have competing interests in the Arctic, home to potentially vast reserves of oil and gas.

Dion said the United States, which has also imposed punitive measures on Russia, was dealing directly with Moscow on a number of international issues. It would be irresponsible for the two nations not to have such contacts, he said.

Watch also UT’s Viewpoint with Dr. George Foty of the Ukrainian-Canadian Professionals and Business Association:“Canada’s Conservative government stood behind the Ukrainian community – and the Liberals will too”

“So something that is irresponsible for the United States would also be irresponsible for Canada, don’t you think? So that is the approach we will have when building a foreign policy,” Dion said.

Canada, Dion added, would maintain the sanctions on Russia for as long as necessary and remained a strong ally of Ukraine. He plans to visit Kyiv next week. 

^{Source – Reuters}