OTTAWA - Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly has summoned Russia's ambassador to Canada for a dressing down after his country's invasion of Ukraine.
Ambassador Oleg V. Stepanov met Joly at the headquarters of Global Affairs Canada on Thursday, where she condemned "in the strongest possible terms Russia's egregious attack on Ukraine," the minister's office told The Canadian Press.
Russia’s hypocrisy will not stand up to the community of nations.
— Mélanie Joly (@melaniejoly) February 24, 2022
Speaking with the OSCE, Canada remains steadfast in our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty. pic.twitter.com/HiTteGGlRY
Joly told Stepanov that Russia has violated Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.
"Canada will use all tools at its disposal to make sure that those illegal acts are not left unpunished," Joly's office said in a statement.
The meeting at the Lester B. Pearson Building in Ottawa took place as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was meeting virtually Thursday with G7 partners to discuss a response.
Trudeau said before the meeting that Russia’s actions will be met with severe consequences.
A joint G7 statement before the meeting said "severe" and co-ordinated economic measures and sanctions were coming against Russia. It called on the international community to condemn the attack in the strongest possible terms.
Due to the security situation in Ukraine, our diplomatic staff are now in Poland.
— Mélanie Joly (@melaniejoly) February 24, 2022
Consular services remain available to Canadians in Ukraine and we are ready to deploy additional resources should there be a surge in demand.
Trudeau said Canada would work with NATO and allies "to collectively respond to these reckless and dangerous acts, including by imposing significant sanctions in addition to those already announced."
Bob Rae, Canada's ambassador to the United Nations, called the attack "a grotesque war crime" and "brutal thuggery."
Russian troops have launched a multi-pronged assault on Ukraine that has reportedly left 40 Ukrainian soldiers dead.
