European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen rounded out her visit to Canada with a speech to Parliament Tuesday night, highlighting the close relationship between Canada and Europe, and underscoring the importance of staying united with Ukraine against Russia.

Von der Leyen鈥檚 trip to Kingston, Ont. and Ottawa has focused on clean energy, trade, and support for Ukraine, all themes she delved into in her remarks to Members of Parliament and senators.

Von der Leyen began her address by recognizing the connections between Canada and the European Union, saying 鈥渉arsh times reveal true friends,鈥� before highlighting the global impacts of Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine.

鈥淎ll of this because President Putin refuses to recognize (Ukraine鈥檚) freedom and (its) independence, and this we can simply not accept,鈥� von der Leyen told the House of Commons before a standing ovation.

She called Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine a threat to 鈥淓uropean security鈥� and to 鈥渢he very foundation of our international community.鈥�

鈥淲e will stand up for Ukraine to be the master of their own future. Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, and we will keep supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes,鈥� she also said, to more applause from parliamentarians.

Ahead of her remarks, von der Leyen and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau toured the Canadian Forces Base Kingston Tuesday, where during a joint press conference she called Canada 鈥渙ne of the European Union鈥檚 most trusted partners.鈥�

鈥淲e share the same vision of the world, the same democratic values,鈥� von der Leyen said. 鈥淲e believe in the power of co-operation, solidarity and multilateralism.鈥�

Von der Leyen has been calling for Canada to export more clean hydrogen to Europe, as the block of countries tries to wean itself off Russian energy.

She highlighted in her speech the importance of getting away from dependence on Russian oil, and lauded Canada for its role in that by increasing its production of liquefied natural gas.

She also said that as the West moves more toward renewable energies, Canada鈥檚 partnership with Europe becomes increasingly crucial.

The last foreign dignitary to address Canada鈥檚 House of Commons was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in March 2022.

Senate Speaker George Furey began his remarks after von der Leyen鈥檚 speech by recognizing the timing of her address as being a year after Zelenskyy鈥檚, and saying her words are a reminder of the importance of 鈥減rotecting the values of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.鈥�

鈥淭hey are the values that we must never take for granted,鈥� he added.