Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - February 24, 2025, Winnipeg, Manitoba Providing opportunities to connect with and protect nature, promote an appreciation and understanding of nature, and to enjoy Manitoba’s natural spaces in a way that is ecologically sound. We deliver nature-based educational programs, facilitate projects encouraging citizen science and environmental action. We’ve been protecting some of Manitoba's most vulnerable ecosystems since 1920. TOP NEWS A3 MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2025 ● ASSOCIATE EDITOR, NEWS: STACEY THIDRICKSON 204-697-7292 ● CITY.DESK@FREEPRESS.MB.CA ● WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb 24, 2022, escalating a conflict that began in 2014. The invasion has since become the largest and deadliest conflict to strike Europe since the Second World War, with hundreds of thousands of military and civilian casualties. A message of Ukrainian unity, solidarity and defiance was carried by all those who spoke during the roughly two-hour event, including representa- tives from all levels of government. Premier Wab Kinew, who signed a formal proclamation declaring the Russian invasion a criminal act on Sunday, said the province will continue to do all it can to welcome Ukrainian refugees and provide support overseas. The provincial government is working on partnerships with officials in Ukraine’s Kherson region to help rebuild its energy and agricultural sectors, he said. “As the leader of the province of Manitoba, I view it as our team’s responsibility,” he told the crowd. “We are standing on the side of good, we are standing on the side of liberty and we are standing on the side of Ukraine.” The premier praised Austin Lath- lin-Bercier, an Opaskwayak Cree Nation man who was the first known Manitoban to be killed in the war. He also acknowledged an unnamed secu- rity guard at the Manitoba Legislative Building, who Kinew said spent one year fighting against Russia. “Manitobans, in a very real way, have given our blood, our sweat and our tears to support Ukraine’s war effort,” he said. Tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Manitoba since the war broke out and the need for support has never been greater, said Joanne Lewandosky, president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Manitoba council. She called on the Canadian govern- ment to provide more military and economic aid to Ukraine. “It’s the third anniversary. We all thought the war was going to stop two-and-a-half years ago and it hasn’t. It’s just a little aggravating when you listen to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and (U.S. President Donald) Trump,” she told the Free Press. Trump sparked outrage this week when he falsely claimed Ukraine was to blame for starting the conflict. Further comments from Trump’s officials have signalled that any agreement to end the war would not include returning Ukraine to its 2014 borders that existed before Russia’s first invasion a decade ago, nor would the country be able to join NATO. Canada has supported Ukraine’s bid for NATO membership. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is to be in Kyiv today to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and attend a summit on peace and security for Ukraine. “Considering what’s going on with Trump, I am angry first of all. This is my biggest emotion,” said Ukrainian Oksana Burchak, who moved to Cana- da 12 years ago. “For three years, everyone would understand who is the good side and who is the bad side. Right now, Trump saying Zelenskyy and Ukraine started the war is obviously wrong and it’s ridiculous.” Burchak said her home city of Zaporizhzhia, located about 200 kilo- metres west of the Russian border, has suffered greatly during the war. Her mother-in-law is currently visiting Winnipeg, but remains living full-time in Ukraine, where she works as a pediatrician. “She feels like they still need her, but her apartment building is almost at the edge of the city and gets constant bombing,” she said. The church where her daughter was baptized was also destroyed in a bomb- ing, Burchak said. “The message is that Ukraine is not giving up,” Burchak said. — with files from The Canadian Press tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca SOLIDARITY ● FROM A1 Trudeau in Ukraine for security summit K YIV — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is to be in Kyiv today along with a dozen other world leaders as Ukraine marks the third an- niversary of Russia’s invasion of that country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed during a news conference in Kyiv Sunday evening that he will meet with Trudeau in per- son, one of 13 foreign leaders attending a summit on peace and security for Ukraine. “Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be here with a visit here tomorrow,” Zelenskyy said in Ukrain- ian. “He is chairing the G7 at the moment so he will tell me what is happening with the relationship with the U.S.” The news conference was translated into English by Ukrainian broadcaster UATV. Trudeau’s office has not responded to queries about the visit Sunday. This is his fourth visit to Ukraine since the war began, and almost certainly his last. He will step down March 9 when a new Liberal leader is elected. “The problem Canada has is one of legitimacy, because we have a gov- ernment right now which is in its last weeks before the new Liberal leader takes over,” said Colin Robertson, a vice-president and fellow at the Can- adian Global Affairs Institute. “I think it’s right that (Trudeau is) going there, it’s consistent with the poli- cies that he has adopted. But he won’t be the host of the G7, Canada is the host. It’s good that he’s there, but what actually can Canada do?” In the same news conference Zelen- skyy said he would be ready to give up the presidency if doing so would achieve a lasting peace for his coun- try under the security umbrella of the NATO military alliance. “If to achieve peace, you really need me to give up my post, I’m ready,” he said. Responding to a journalist’s question on whether he’d trade his office for peace, Zelenskyy said, “I can trade it for NATO.” His comment appeared to be aimed at recent suggestions by U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin that elections should be held in Ukraine despite Ukrainian legislation prohibiting them during martial law. Trump’s officials have signalled that any agreement to end the war would not include returning Ukraine to its 2014 borders that existed before Russia’s first invasion a decade ago, nor would the country be able to join NATO. He also has been harshly critical of Zelenskyy, blaming him for doing noth- ing as “his cities get demolished, as his people get killed.” Canada has supported Ukraine’s bid for NATO membership. Monday’s peace summit in Kyiv comes as the United States has been meeting with Russia in an attempt to broker a peace deal — without Ukraine at the table. In recent days Trump has accused Ukraine of starting the war and ap- peared to be trying to barter with Ukraine for access to its critical min- erals as part of any peace process. Trudeau has said that it’s crucial for Ukraine to be part of any peace talks, a point echoed by numerous European leaders, and reiterated by Trudeau in a phone call with Zelenskyy last week. Trudeau also spoke Saturday with Trump by phone, and both countries said Ukraine was one of the topics of discussion. Zelenskyy said European Commis- sion President Ursula von der Leyen and delegates from Nordic and Baltic countries are also attending Monday’s summit in person, and two dozen lead- ers will join virtually. “This is an important opportunity to discuss Ukraine’s strategy and the framework for security guarantees,” Zelenskyy said. The agenda for the meeting is to focus heavily on long-term security and stability for Ukraine, and the co-oper- ation needed from European and other global allies. On Wednesday, Trudeau participated virtually in a meeting with European leaders convened by French President Emmanuel Macron to come up with a response to Trump’s overtures to Rus- sia. Earlier on Sunday, Zelenskyy said Russia launched 267 attack drones into Ukraine overnight on Saturday, more than in any other single attack of the war. Ukraine’s air force said 138 drones had been shot down over 13 Ukrainian regions, with 119 more lost en route to their targets. Three ballistic missiles had also been fired, the air force said. One person was killed in the city of Kryvyi Rih, accord- ing to the city military administration. The attack came as leaders in Kyiv and across Europe are seeking to navigate rapid changes in U.S. foreign policy under Trump, whose recent words have raised fears that he would join with Moscow to force a settlement to the war without involving Ukraine and its European backers. Russia’s deputy foreign minister on Saturday said preparations were underway for a Trump-Putin meeting, a further sign that the Russian leader’s isolation, at least for the Trump admin- istration, was beginning to thaw. Reacting to the latest Russian attacks, however, Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s Min- ister of Foreign Affairs, said that the overnight attack “demonstrates that avoiding calling Russia an aggressor does not change the fact that it is one.” “No one should trust Putin’s words. Look at his actions instead,” Sybiha said in a statement on social media. One of the biggest questions sur- rounding any peace deal is how to en- force it, and security guarantees are chief among the topics for discussion Monday. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said on Feb. 18 that Can- ada wants to be “involved in protecting Ukraine” when the war ends, though Ottawa has not said what that might entail. The British government has said it’s ready to deploy troops to Ukraine to help uphold a ceasefire if one occurs. Canada has been among the most vocal supporters of Ukraine on the world stage, with Trudeau cham- pioning accountability for Russia in global forums. The federal Liberals say they plan to champion Ukraine’s cause at the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting Canada is hosting in Quebec next month as well as the G7 leaders’ summit this June in Alberta. Ottawa is a major donor to Ukraine, with the Kiel Institute for the World Economy ranking Canada as fifth in overall allocations in its Ukraine Sup- port Tracker, which span military, financial and humanitarian contribu- tions. Canada ranks third for the amount of financial allocations to Ukraine, particularly in pledging loans meant to keep the country solvent and providing funding quickly after it is allocated. But Canada takes the 20th spot for military allocations weighted by popu- lation, and analysts have criticized Ot- tawa for delays in providing equipment sought by Ukraine. — The Canadian Press, with Associated Press files BILL GRAVELAND FRANK GUNN / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hugs Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, in 2023. MIKE SUDOMA / FREE PRESS Supporters of Ukraine wave flags as they gather outside the Canadian Museum for Human rights Sunday. ;