Amid some calls for peace, foreign affairs minister says allied support for Ukraine remains firm

Foreign Affairs Minister Mlanie Jolysays Canada remains firm in its support for Ukraine, even as China inserts itself into the issue with calls for a ceasefire.

"We're all in favour of talking about peace, but if China really wants peace, it needs to say to Russia to get out of Ukraine," Joly said in an interview airing Sunday onRosemary Barton Live.

Joly told CBC chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton that Canada remained committed to helping Ukraine ward off Russian aggression, one year after Putin first ordered his military to invade the country.

"Everything that is going on onthe battlefield will have an impact afterwards at the negotiation table. And so the more we're able to help Ukraine defend itself, the more we will be able to put Ukraine in a strong position when it comes to negotiate peace," she said.

Chinawaded into the conflict this week with an official call for peace talks and a ceasefire, a key move from a country which is thought to have significant influence in Moscow and with the resources to profoundly affect the course of the war.

The Chinese proposal also called for the end of Western sanctions on Russia, which Jolydismissed. Canada imposed more sanctions on Friday and announced it wouldsend four more main battle tanks to Ukraine.

Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy cautiously welcomed Chinese involvement and said Friday he plans to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

WATCH | Foreigns affairs minister discusses war in Ukraine:

Canada imposes nearly 200 more sanctions on Russia, promises 4 more Leopard tanks for Ukraine

2 years ago

Duration 9:37

Rosemary Barton Live speaks with Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly about new sanctions against Russia, and why Ottawa is urging allies to boost military aid to Ukraine in an effort to deter a Russian advance.

NATO's backing remains strong, Biden says

China's intervention comes after U.S. President Joe Biden made a trip to Kyiv earlier this week to reaffirm America's support for Ukraine.

"One year into this war, Putin no longer doubts the strength of our coalition, but he still doubts our conviction,"Biden said in Warsaw following his journey to the Ukrainian capital.

"But there should be no doubt, our support for Ukraine will not waver, NATO will not be divided and we will not tire."

Poland has been among Ukraine's most important allies, not only sending military equipment to its neighbour but also hosting millions of Ukrainian refugees.

In an interview airing onRosemary Barton Live,Marcin Przydacz, a top adviser to Polish presidentAndrzej Duda, said Biden's speech in Warsaw had been an important rallying call for the Western alliance backing Ukraine.

WATCH | Polish official discusses NATO unity:

Biden's Warsaw visit shows commitment to defending 'free world,' Poland's top adviser says

2 years ago

Duration 8:29

Rosemary Barton Live speaks with Poland's top adviser to President Andrzej Duda, Marcin Przydacz, about U.S. President Joe Biden's recent visit to Warsaw. Przydacz described the visit as a signal to the global audience that 'we are the free world' and NATO's determination to defend it as Poland's latest batch of tanks arrive on Ukrainian soil.

"There is a division between the free world, based on rules based on our values and the dedicationto human rights," he said. "On the other side we had dark autocrats, aggressive neo-colonial, neo-imperialRussia, which understands only one language, the language of 'no.'"

Przydaczsaid Poland would continue to push for additional military aid to Ukraine, including in the form of artillery and air defence systems, but he acknowledged there were some difficulties in meeting Ukrainian requests for fighter jets, especially around training and maintenance.

"We would be ready to do it in a broader coalition if that would be the need both from Ukrainian side and the readiness on the Western side," he said.

Domestic pressures

Biden's trip and China's intervention come as some domestic voices are increasingly vocal about the need for peace, or the end to military aid to Ukraine.

In Canada, Green Party co-leader Jonathan Pedneault told CBC Radio'sThe Housethat his party supported limiting the type of weapons the country sends to support Ukraine.

"Do we have any assurances that war will stop at the border of Russia once territory is reclaimed?" he told host Catherine Cullen, arguing Canada should push for the start of peace talks.

LISTEN| | Green co-leader on Ukraine-Russia war:

CBC News: The House11:17The Green Party calls for peace

Politicians in Canada have generally been united in support of Canadas efforts to send aid and military weapons to Ukraine, but the Green Party is now also pushing for peace talks with Russia. Green Party co-leader Jonathan Pedneault discusses whether his partys stance is prudent or practical and why he believes it may be time to stop sending some weapons to Ukraine.

In the United States, some voices are even more critical of the broader NATO approach to the war.

Florida governor and prospective 2024 presidential candidate Ron DeSantis criticized what he called a "blank check policy." U.S. Rep.Matt Gaetzalso introduced a "Ukraine Fatigue Resolution" calling for the U.S. to end military and financial aid to Ukraine.

Devastating impact on Ukrainians, global food supply

One year of war in Ukraine has left millions of Ukrainians displaced from their homes, as Russia continues to target civilian infrastructure.

The UN estimates over eightmillion people have fled Ukraine, while millions more are internally displaced.

The war has also had a profound impact on the global food supply, as Ukraine's exports helped feed 400 million people before the end of the war.

WATCH | WFP chief economist on toll of Ukraine war:

How has the last year of war in Ukraine impacted global food security?

2 years ago

Duration 7:04

Rosemary Barton Live speaks with World Food Program's Chief Economist, Arif Husain, about how the year of war is impacting global food security and when to expect an extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

The World Food Program's chief economist, Arif Husain, said devastation in Ukraine and the coming expiry of a deal to allow grain exports from Ukrainian Black Sea ports was a serious risk.

"[The Black Sea deal]must continue not only for Ukraine but for the world," he told Barton.

Ahead of talks to potentially extend the deal, Husain argued that the arrangement should be made permanent.