OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney engaged in discussions with European leaders on Tuesday regarding the ongoing efforts to enhance Ukraine's security and recovery in light of the conflict instigated by Russia's full-scale invasion nearly four years ago. In a social media update, Carney emphasized the commitment of Canada and European leaders to work towards a negotiated settlement to this enduring conflict.
During the virtual meeting, Carney, along with heads of European institutions and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, reaffirmed their readiness to provide "robust security guarantees for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine." Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk shared insights from the meeting, noting that while "peace is on the horizon," absolute certainty in achieving it remains elusive.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently met Carney on Saturday in Nova Scotia before traveling to Florida to engage in further discussions regarding a potential peace agreement. U.S. President Donald Trump, who hosted Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago, expressed optimism that Ukraine and Russia are "closer than ever before" to a peace settlement, although he acknowledged the presence of significant obstacles that could hinder the process.
Global Affairs Canada highlighted that Ottawa is actively involved in collaborative efforts with Ukraine, the U.S., and European partners as conversations progress towards securing a just and lasting peace. On Tuesday, Zelenskyy also announced plans for meetings involving officials from approximately 30 countries, including Canada, under the initiative dubbed the "Coalition of the Willing." This coalition aims to support Ukraine’s endeavor to conclude the war with Russia on acceptable terms.
The national security advisers of the participating countries are scheduled to convene in Ukraine on Saturday, followed by a summit of the nations’ leaders on January 6 in France, as shared by Zelenskyy through social media platforms. He extended his gratitude to Trump administration officials for their willingness to partake in these negotiations, although further details of their involvement were not disclosed.
Laura Scaffidi, a spokesperson for Carney, confirmed that Canadian government officials will indeed be present during the negotiations and meetings, though specifics regarding Prime Minister Carney's participation would be clarified closer to the date of the upcoming meetings.
This report underscored the ongoing international diplomatic efforts aimed at bringing a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, involving key global leaders and a network of nations dedicated to supporting Ukraine throughout this tumultuous period.
— With files from The Associated Press
