Canada鈥檚 Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is calling on Ukraine鈥檚 neighbours to respect the country鈥檚 sovereignty amid fears that Russian troops are taking over the Crimean peninsula.
But he said he鈥檚 not 鈥済oing to get into hypotheticals鈥� when it comes to Canada鈥檚 involvement in a potential international response to the Ukrainian crisis.
Speaking to reporters Friday from Kyiv, where he鈥檚 leading a delegation of Conservative MPs and Ukrainian-Canadian community leaders, Baird said he鈥檚 concerned about Russian military exercises close to the Ukrainian border.
Baird met with the new Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and acting president Oleksandr Turchynov, among others, and said everyone is 鈥渢remendously concerned by provocative actions.鈥�
Yatsenyuk and Turchynov assumed their positions in government after the Ukrainian parliament voted to oust President Viktor Yanukovych, who then fled Kyiv.
Russia has insisted that its military exercises were planned before the crisis in Ukraine escalated, but members of the acting Ukrainian government have accused Russian troops of trying to take control of some airports in the southern region of Crimea, which is strongly pro-Russian.
鈥淲e must all work together to support Ukraine,鈥� Baird said.
Asked how Ottawa鈥檚 support for anti-government protesters and condemnation of Yanukovych鈥檚 regime may affect diplomatic relations, Baird replied: 鈥淐anada is not the world鈥檚 referee 鈥� We certainly don鈥檛 apologize for standing with the Ukrainian people in their struggle for freedom.鈥�
Baird said he welcomes Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov鈥檚 statement that Russia would respect Ukraine's territorial sovereignty.
Baird has also met with former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who was recently released from a prison hospital, as well as representatives of the EuroMaidan civil society and some religious groups in Ukraine.
During his visit, Baird toured the Maidan, Kyiv鈥檚 Independence Square, where dozens of protesters were killed in recent weeks as clashes between demonstrators and police intensified.
He tweeted Friday that it was an "emotional experience.鈥�
Baird has also pledged $200,000 to help Maidan clinics care for injured and wounded civilians.
Earlier Friday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Canada supports and respects the 鈥渢erritorial integrity of Ukraine鈥� and wants to send that message to Ukraine鈥檚 neighbours.
鈥淲e remain very supportive of the Ukrainian people and their desire for democracy and a better future and given developments that we see that are worrying to us, I think it is important that, as Canadians, we emphasize our very strong support,鈥� he said at an event in Toronto.
鈥淲e emphasize this to all the countries in the region,鈥� he added, without specifically naming Russia.
Harper also said he has spoken to German Chancellor Angela Merkel about the Ukrainian crisis.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister David Cameron phoned Russian President Vladimir Putin to emphasize the importance of Ukraine鈥檚 sovereignty, a spokesperson told British media.
Putin reportedly agreed with Cameron and insisted, once again, that Russia鈥檚 military exercises were planned before the situation in Ukraine deteriorated.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry also called Russia's foreign minister Friday to express concern over military activity in Crimea.
With files from The Canadian Press and The Associated Press
