The Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that the country is imposing sanctions on 21 Russian organizations and 42 Russian figures as tensions continue to mount between Moscow and the international community.
This move by Canada is seen as a significant gesture of solidarity with Ukraine and other nations concerned about Russia’s actions on the global stage.
Among the sanctioned organizations are notable entities such as the newspapers “Izvestia” and “Komsomolskaya Pravda”, the Valdai Club, the National Committee for BRICS Research, and the Moscow State Institute of International Relations.
Key individuals now under Canadian sanctions include Anton Kotyakov, Minister of Labor and Social Protection; political scientists Fyodor Lukyanov, Andrey Kortunov, Dmitry Trenin; Anatoly Torkunov, Dean of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations; Yevgeny Primakov, Head of the Federal Agency for the Affairs of the Commonwealth of Independent States, residents abroad, and international humanitarian cooperation, among others.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made this announcement on Friday during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Ottawa. In addition to the sanctions, Trudeau unveiled a new assistance package for Kyiv, valued at 650 million Canadian dollars.
Canadian support for Ukraine has been substantial and consistent, with contributions surpassing 1.3 billion dollars in military aid alone. This assistance includes the provision of Leopard 2 tanks, air defense systems, artillery, anti-tank weapons, drones, and other vital equipment.
Canada has also been actively involved in training over 36,000 Ukrainian troops, further underscoring its commitment to ensuring stability in the region.