Following one of Russia鈥檚 deadliest attacks against Ukraine, Ambassador to Canada Yulia Kovaliv says Ukraine hopes Canada will push other nations into giving them long-range missiles that can reach deep into Russia.
鈥淲e count on Canada's support to talk with the allies, to explain to them that the cost of this delay, the cost of being afraid of some of those red lines,鈥� Kovaliv said in an interview with CTV Power Play鈥檚 Vassy Kapelos.
Her comments come after two Russian ballistic missiles killed more than 50 people and injured more than 200 others in the Ukrainian city of Poltava on Tuesday. A military academy and a nearby hospital were the targets hit.
Since the start of the war in February 2022, some allies have raised concerns about escalation and crossing 鈥渞ed lines鈥� as Ukraine asks for more defence help.
鈥淚t can't be normal in the middle of Europe, and this is because of these attacks precisely,鈥� Kovaliv said. 鈥淭hat's why we are calling on our partners to give us this ability to destroy the places where Russia launched its missile attacks.鈥�
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly pleaded to allies Tuesday to approve Ukraine鈥檚 use of long-range missiles inside Russia.
Today, I held a Staff meeting where we had in-depth discussions about the use of air defense systems and the protection of our cities and communities. Steps were identified to make the use of the systems we already have more effective.
鈥� Volodymyr Zelenskyy / 袙芯谢芯写懈屑懈褉 袟械谢械薪褋褜泻懈泄 (@ZelenskyyUa)
We are also working on securing additional鈥�
鈥淕ranting Ukraine these approvals and providing us with this weaponry would be the biggest step toward a real, just end to this war,鈥� Zelenskyy wrote in a post on X.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to Zelenskyy following Tuesday鈥檚 attack. According to a readout from the Prime Minister鈥檚 Office, Trudeau reiterated Canada鈥檚 commitment to provide further assistance to Ukraine.
Ukraine has also been asking its Western allies for more surface-to-air missile systems to help defend against Russian attacks. In a separate post on X on Tuesday, Zelenskyy said he spoke to Trudeau about that need.
I had a call with , during which I informed him about the rescue operation after the Russian shelling of Poltava. The Prime Minister of Canada expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and to the entire people of Ukraine.
鈥� Volodymyr Zelenskyy / 袙芯谢芯写懈屑懈褉 袟械谢械薪褋褜泻懈泄 (@ZelenskyyUa)
During our conversation, we鈥�
In January 2023, Canada announced its plan to purchase an air defence system for Ukraine, but it has yet to be sent over. Canada does not own or make these systems and is working with the U.S. to deliver one.
Simon Lafortune, press secretary to Defence Minister Bill Blair, said the minister has been 鈥渋n frequent contact鈥� with David Cohen, U.S. Ambassador to Canada, 鈥渢o discuss expediting the delivery timeline as much as possible.鈥�
鈥淲e have been assured by the Americans that it will be delivered in early 2025,鈥� Lafortune said.
Blair will be in Germany later this week to participate in a meeting for the Ukraine Defence Contact Group. The minister is expected to announce additional military aid to Ukraine.
You can watch the full interview with Ukraine鈥檚 Ambassador to Canada Yulia Kovaliv at the top of this article
