Ukrainian president says Trudeau is expected to visit Ukraine on Monday

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to visit Ukraine on Monday, as the country gears up to participate in a virtual G7 meeting where the ongoing conflict with Russia will take center stage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the upcoming visit during a news conference on Sunday evening, revealing that Trudeau will be among 13 foreign leaders attending a summit on peace and security for Ukraine. Zelenskyy also expressed his desire to receive an update from Trudeau on Canada’s current relationship with the United States.

Trudeau, who currently holds the presidency of the G7, will also chair the virtual meeting on Monday. The meeting comes at a crucial time as the United States has been sending mixed signals regarding its support for Ukraine and has been engaging in talks with Russia in an attempt to broker a peace deal.

Recent discussions between Russian and U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia, without the involvement of Kyiv, have resulted in an agreement to work towards resolving the conflict. However, Trudeau has emphasized the importance of including Ukraine in any talks aimed at ending hostilities sparked by Russia’s invasion three years ago.

In a call with U.S. President Donald Trump over the weekend, Trudeau reiterated the need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. A statement from Trump’s office following the call expressed a shared desire to see an end to Russia’s invasion and noted that the war would not have occurred if Trump had been president at the time.

Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk weighed in on the situation, emphasizing the need for unity in addressing the conflict. Yatsenyuk acknowledged the importance of working with the Trump administration and suggested that Canada, as the G7 chair, could support a joint resolution with the U.S. to increase military spending and provide further assistance to Ukraine.

As Trudeau prepares to meet with Zelenskyy and participate in the virtual G7 meeting, the international community will be closely watching for developments in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The visit underscores Canada’s commitment to supporting Ukraine and working towards a peaceful resolution to the crisis.