Ukraine’s ambassador to Canada yesterday pleaded with MPs to overrule cabinet’s waiver of Russian sanctions. “This appeasement has already failed,” Ambassador Yuliia Kovaliv told the House of Commons foreign affairs committee..“Do not take the bait,” testified Kovaliv. “There was no need to waive the sanctions.”.According to Blacklock's Reporter, cabinet on July 9 granted a sanctions waiver to return a Siemens natural gas turbine undergoing repairs in Montréal back to Germany. The turbine was for use in transporting Russian fuel imports. It required a cabinet waiver under the Special Economic Measures Act..Ambassador Kovaliv called it a “dangerous precedent that violates international solidarity and goes against the principle of rule of law,” adding: “You can just Google the history. This appeasement has already failed to prevent the war in Ukraine.”.“Russia’s ability to fuel the war is built mainly on its oil and gas revenue that has already exceeded $100 billion for the period of the war,” testified the Ambassador. “The reason why Canada and other allies imposed sanctions was to deprive Russia of the revenue which funds the war.”.The turbine was delivered for use by Gazprom, Russia’s state-run gas company. “Right now, this turbine sits in Germany,” testified German Ambassador Sabine Sparwasser. It was “sitting there ready and in perfect condition,” she said..Last winter, Russia supplied 55% of Germany’s natural gas. Its market share has since declined to 26% as German customers sought alternative suppliers like Norway and the Netherlands, said Ambassador Sparwasser..Conservative MP James Bezan (Selkirk-Interlake, Man.) yesterday told the committee that cabinet’s sanctions waiver was an embarrassment. “I am very disappointed and embarrassed that Canada has been outplayed and outmaneuvered by Vladimir Putin and the Russian Federation,” said Bezan..“They keep talking about calling Putin’s bluff but we have to remember Putin is always playing chess and it seems like the Government of Canada is playing checkers,” said Bezan. “This is the thin edge of the wedge that will undermine our entire sanctions regime,” he added. “What’s going to happen next time Russia is pushing for something?”.Alexandra Chyczij, president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, said by permitting delivery of the turbine “Canada has allowed itself to be party to blackmail,” adding: “This is the first waiver of sanctions that we have seen.”.“Understand who we are dealing with,” said Chyczij. “Ukrainians unfortunately have lived with various versions of Vladimir Putin for over 300 years and we know exactly how the psyche works. Appeasement does not work with him. Only a strong hand will show Putin the West means what it says. By caving on sanctions we are showing him our weakness.”
