Arriving in Ottawa Thursday evening in his distinctive olive green clothes, Zelensky was greeted by the prime minister and Chrystia Freeland..“He’s become a hero to a great many people, certainly to me,” Canada’s United Nations (UN) Ambassador Bob Rae told the media on Thursday in New York..“He’s a man of great dedication and great personal courage.”.Rae pointed out Canada's substantial contributions to the war effort, including welcoming thousands of Ukrainians escaping the war and offering over $1.8 billion in military aid, equipment, and supplies..Zelensky and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are anticipated to discuss additional ways Canada can assist Ukraine in its war against Russia..Trudeau has made the case for helping Ukraine at international gatherings, including the G7, G20, NATO and at this week’s UN General Assembly..On Wednesday, Trudeau called for the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine and advocated for establishing a peace agreement that “respects the UN Charter, is based in international law and preserves Ukraine’s territorial integrity.”.Trudeau's comments come a month after Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba requested that Canada flex its “diplomatic muscle” to garner support for Ukraine from other nations. .On Friday, Zelensky is scheduled to address the Canadian Parliament for the second time since the invasion by Russia began in February 2022. This address marks his first in-person appearance before the Parliament..During his virtual speech in March 2022, Zelensky's request to Parliament was for NATO to establish a no-fly zone. He also appealed for financial assistance to support humanitarian efforts and said that 97 children had died..Now, over 500 children have been killed and 9,000 civilians, according to a UN agency..Zelensky warned the UN Security Council this week, cautioning that Russia intends to create a new postwar international order..“The goal of the present war against Ukraine is to turn our land, our people, our lives, our resources into weapons against you – against the international rules-based order,” Zelensky told the UN..Zelensky characterized Russia's invasion of Crimea in 2014 and the full-scale attack in 2022 as "criminal and unprovoked aggression" by a “terrorist state” and asked for Russia’s Security Council veto to be removed..Zelensky will also visit Toronto, where he will meet with business leaders and participate in an event, as announced by the Prime Minister's Office.
