Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre marked the anniversary of Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine by reiterating Canada’s steadfast commitment to the Ukrainian people and outlining the enduring principles behind his party’s foreign policy.
In a detailed statement commemorating three years since the onset of the conflict, Poilievre recalled the early hours of that fateful day when Kremlin forces launched a brutal full-scale attack on Ukraine while families slept in their homes. He described the subsequent months and years as a period marked by immense tragedy, with thousands of Ukrainians killed or injured—not only on the front lines but also in cities once considered safe havens such as Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Kharkiv, and Mariupol.
Reflecting on Canada’s past actions, Poilievre recalled that Canada’s involvement in Ukrainian defence began as early as 2014 during the tenure of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He emphasized that, even as international responses were mixed, Canada took decisive action by sending troops under Operation UNIFIER and helping to remove the Russian Federation from the G8—a move he argued was as critical then as it is now.
“Just hours after the full-scale war began, I told a rally of Ottawa’s Ukrainian community that ‘Canadians stand in total solidarity with you, and we will be by your side throughout,’” Poilievre said. He reaffirmed that his party’s commitment has not wavered over time, highlighting ongoing efforts to supply Ukraine with necessary weapons and to promote Canadian oil and gas as a viable alternative to countering Putin’s energy blackmail.
Looking ahead, Poilievre made it clear that any future peace negotiations must include Ukraine as a key stakeholder. “Ukrainians have the right to determine their own future,” he insisted, underscoring that a settlement excluding Ukraine would be unacceptable.
As Canada and the international community reflect on the sacrifices made by Ukrainians in defence of their nation, Poilievre’s remarks serve as both a tribute to their resilience and a call to maintain unwavering support in the face of continued aggression. He concluded his statement with a stirring reminder that despite the adversities faced over the past eleven years, “Ukraine has not yet perished, nor her glory, nor her freedom.”