Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development

Comité permanent des affaires étrangères et du développement international

For immediate release

Brussels, February 24, 2023 -

It has been one year since Russia launched an illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. Thousands of Ukrainians have died, millions have been displaced, and untold damage has been inflicted on Ukraine's physical and natural environment. It is clear that Russia bears sole responsibility for this war. Russian forces must immediately and fully withdraw from all of Ukraine's internationally recognized territory.

To continue its study of these issues, a delegation of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development is in Europe, exploring the ways Canada can build on its response to Russia’s aggression and further coordinate with our allies and partners.

Over the course of the past three days, the delegation has met in Brussels with officials from the European Commission, the European External Action Service, the Ukrainian Mission to the European Union, the Council of Europe, civil society, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. These meetings have allowed the delegation to examine the collective impact of the sanctions on Russian officials and entities, as well as consider the unprecedented humanitarian needs both in Ukraine and the Global South. They have also addressed the investments and planning needed to further strengthen NATO’s core mission of deterrence and defence.

At this critical moment in history, transatlantic cooperation is more vital than ever. Together, we must continue to fortify the international rules-based order and work towards our shared goal of a sovereign, democratic, and prosperous Ukraine.