Russian President Vladimir Putin (Photo: EFE Agency)
Canada’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Robert Rae, said Wednesday (23) that his country will step up “tough responses” to Russia if it decides to continue military escalation in the region of Ukraine.
At the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, Rae said that for Russian President Vladimir Putin, the current problem is not the enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), but the existence of Ukraine. “Ukraine is not a mistake, it is a sovereign nation,” he said, who “strongly” condemned support for Russia and recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Donbass.
“We are not asking for any favours. When we ask for military de-escalation and dialogue, we are asking what countries should do, and that is the challenge.” Rae reiterated that no UN member state would do him a favor but respect international rules and laws. Yesterday, Canada announced that it would impose sanctions on Russia, the United States and other Western allies in response to military activities in Ukraine.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the country would also increase its military presence in the region, with an additional 460 troops joining NATO efforts. The measures target Russian creditors tied to the state and prohibit Canadian investors from buying bonds that trade Russian sovereign debt. Members of the Duma, the legislative body of the Russian Federation, have also been restricted.
*With information from Dow Jones Newswires.
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