Full Breakdown
European Lawmakers Push Canada to Heighten Pressure on Russia and China
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
A delegation of eight European parliamentarians belonging to the United for Ukraine Parliamentary Network is in Ottawa this week meeting Canadian members of Parliament, senators, think-tank representatives and, later, Ontario Premier Doug Ford. The group is urging Canada to adopt a more forceful stance against Russia’s war in Ukraine and to use its diplomatic contacts with China to curb Beijing’s support for Moscow.
Background & Context
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Since then Canada has pledged more than $26 billion in civilian and military aid to Kyiv, aligning its sanctions with other Western allies. In a joint G7 statement last November, China was identified as a “decisive enabler” of Russia’s war, citing Beijing’s procurement of Russian petroleum, weapons components and limited financial services that evade Western sanctions.
Official Statements & Responses
He cautioned that Russia may eventually target neighboring Moldova’s Transnistria region and other states with Russian-speaking minorities.
Latvian MEP Rihards Kols said President Vladimir Putin appears to be testing NATO’s Article Five, seeking ways to strike alliance members without triggering a collective defence response. Polish lawmaker Agnieszka Pomaska echoed concerns about “hybrid” attacks such as sabotage, GPS jamming and incursions into NATO airspace.
Data & Statistics
- Canada’s total aid to Ukraine since 2022: > $26 billion (civilian + military).
- China’s reported activities supporting Russia include purchasing petroleum, supplying weapon parts and providing limited banking and money-transfer services that bypass sanctions.
Verbatim Quotes
- “He is a provocateur. He makes a provocation, and he sees what happens. If there is no strong reaction, he moves further,” — Mr. Merezkho
- “Every day on my phone in the morning, I receive any information that there was some kind of alarm at the border, close to the border, or even in my city or somewhere in the continent,” — Ms. Pomaska