New Ukraine President Meets Up With Harper In Kyiv
Stephen Harper the Prime Minister affirmed Canada’s unwavering support of a new, westward looking Ukraine on Saturday as he became the first world leader to meet the country’s newly sworn in president.
Harper’s meeting with Petro Poroshenko, has significant political overtones in Canada. There are 1.2 million Canadians of Ukrainian descent, and they represent an important voting block.
Harper said that although Ukraine faces tough challenges, it can count on Canada’s continued support.
Harper told Poroshenko in an ornate meeting room in his new presidential office building “I am here on behalf of the government of Canada to express our solidarity with the government of Ukraine as you stand up for your unity, your liberty and your territorial integrity. We’re fully behind you on that. I also do want to express the solidarity of the Canadian people with the Ukrainian people in your aspiration for a democratic European future and not a return to the country’s Soviet past.”