Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to members of the Canadian Parliament yesterday. In an impassioned speech, Zelensky thanked Canada for its support of Ukraine’s war efforts, requested continued support and urged Canada to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine.
Canada has provided military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s ongoing Invasion of the country. In addition, it has slapped sanctions on over 500 individuals and organizations related to the Kremlin.
“This attack on Ukraine is their attempt to annihilate the Ukrainian people. There is nothing else to it… it’s an attempt to destroy our future, our nation, our character.”
Zelensky said that Russia’s intention behind the invasion is to “subjugate (the Ukrainian) people”. He asked members of the parliament to imagine what it would be like if their airports and cities were bombed indiscriminately and people, kids included, died as a result. “I would like you to feel this, what we feel every day”, he said.
“We’ve been friends with you Justin, but also I would like you to understand, and I would like you to feel this, what we feel every day. We want to live and we want to be victorious. We want to prevail for the sake of life.”
Zelensky urged the parliament to declare a no-fly zone over Ukraine. “How many more cruise missiles have to fall on our cities before you do this?” he asked. Canada, like many of Ukraine’s western allies has declined the Ukrainian president’s request for a no-fly zone. Canada has maintained that it is against enforcing a no-fly zone. Intercepting Russian missiles can escalate the conflict into a global war. “We need to be sure we’re not triggering an international conflict,” Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said on Tuesday.
