His Conservative Party predecessor, Stephen Harper, was tough on Russia but not a very sociable (or, apparently, well-liked) guy. His trips to Ukraine usually involved short stays with private photo sessions and meetings.
By contrast, the younger Trudeau – son of the late Pierre Trudeau, the charismatic politician who served for 15 years as Canada’s prime minister – seems to really enjoy people. He participated in two invitation-only receptions in Kyiv – on July 10 and July 11, and at least one press conference. He visited the Holodomor memorial and the EuroMaidan Revolution shrine, took in western Ukraine and, along the way, allowed too-many-to-count selfies to be taken with him as he chatted up charmed hosts.
We also give him credit for visiting Ukraine, something U.S. President Barack Obama will not do, one of his big foreign policy blunders.
But the substance of Canadian policy should be of greater concern and, despite Trudeau’s genuine rhetoric about always standing up for Ukraine, there are reasons to worry about his policies.
The free-trade agreement signed only underscores the low level of existing commerce between the two nations. The fact that Trudeau couldn’t even commit to a military training mission beyond March shows that Ukraine is far away from getting any substantial weapons support or military assistance to prevail against Russia’s war.
Additionally, members of Trudeau’s government, particularly Foreign Minister Stephane Dion, have sent out worryingly appeasing signals to the Kremlin. Conservative Canadian Senator Denise Batters highlighted the dangers recently, deriding as “weak and incoherent” the Trudeau government’s policy on Ukraine.
“I am one of 1.3 million Canadians of Ukrainian heritage who want our Canadian government to stand up for Ukraine,” Batters warned. “All Canadians want to know: What is the Trudeau government doing to ensure that Russia gets out of Ukraine now?”
So far, Trudeau’s answer is part of the West’s disturbing pattern of strong rhetorical support and inadequate practical support.
When it comes to Canada, we are sure that its 1.3 million citizens of Ukrainian heritage will see to it that Trudeau doesn’t stray too far in the pro-Kremlin direction. Canada is among Ukraine’s best friends in the world. If we were to list the others, we would put the United States, Poland, Great Britain and the Nordic countries right up there as well.
Trudeau’s visit highlighted that these two nations have natural attractions to each other and that, nonetheless, it will take considerable effort by people on both sides to translate these bonds into more tangible progress.
