KYIV — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other world leaders were in Ukraine's capital on Monday to mark the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of that country.
The visitors arrived by train in Kyiv and were greeted at the station by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and the president's chief of staff Andrii Yermak.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was among the group.
In a post on X, von der Leyen wrote that Europe was in Kyiv “because Ukraine is in Europe.”
“In this fight for survival, it is not only the destiny of Ukraine that is at stake. It’s Europe’s destiny,” she wrote.
The guests also included European Council President Antonio Costa as well as the prime ministers of Northern European countries and Spain.
They were set to attend events dedicated to the anniversary and discuss supporting Ukraine amid a recent U.S. policy shift under President Donald Trump.
There was a heavy police presence in the streets near the venue where the leaders were meeting. Officers were stationed on every corner. Some streets were blocked off with security only allowing people through after scanning their identification.
Trudeau received a quick hug and a handshake from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy just prior to the conference beginning.
Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, in a major escalation of a conflict that began in 2014.
The invasion is the largest and deadliest conflict in Europe since the Second World War, and has caused hundreds of thousands of military casualties and tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilian casualties.
The three-year mark of the latest hostilities came at a sensitive moment for Kyiv as Zelenskyy navigates a rapidly changing international environment upended by changes to U.S. policy by Trump.
The U.S. leader has sought to follow through on his campaign promises to end the war quickly, though his methods for doing so have alarmed many in Ukraine and Europe who believe that his approach is too conciliatory toward Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin.
Russia's foreign ministry said Saturday that preparations for a face-to-face meeting between Trump and Putin were underway, and U.S. officials have acknowledged that they had agreed with Moscow to reestablish diplomatic ties and restart economic co-operation.
And on Sunday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the state TASS news agency that Moscow and Washington would continue bilateral talks at the end of next week, adding that “quite a lot” of contact was ongoing between the Russian and American sides.
It's Trudeau's fourth visit to Ukraine since 2022 and almost certainly his last, as he is to be replaced as prime minister when his Liberal party picks a new leader early next month.
Zelenskyy told a news conference on Sunday that he will be looking for an update from Trudeau on the G7's relationship with the U.S. under Trump. Canada is chairing the group of countries this year.
But Colin Robertson, a vice-president and fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, said Trudeau's leadership status makes if hard for him to be effective at the meetings in Kyiv.
"The problem Canada has is one of legitimacy, because we have a government right now which is in its last weeks before the new Liberal leader takes over," Robertson said.
"I think it's right that (Trudeau is) going there, it's consistent with the policies 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?"
Zelenskyy said Sunday that he would be ready to give up his presidency if doing so would achieve a lasting peace for his country under the security umbrella of the NATO military alliance.
His comment appeared to be aimed at recent suggestions by Trump and 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 nothing as "his cities get demolished, as his people get killed."
Canada has supported Ukraine's bid for NATO membership and Trudeau has said that it's crucial for Ukraine to be part of any peace talks, a point echoed by numerous European leaders.
Canada has been among the most vocal supporters of Ukraine on the world stage, with Trudeau championing accountability for Russia in global forums.
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 Support Tracker, which span military, financial and humanitarian contributions.
Canada ranks third for the amount of financial allocations of 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 population, and analysts have criticized Ottawa for delays in providing equipment sought by Ukraine.
Since the invasion, thousands of Ukrainians have fled to Canada as refugees and on Sunday, rallies were held at city halls, museums and community centres across the country to show support.
While the leaders travelled to Ukrainian overnight, the country's air defenses downed 113 drones launched by Russia at 12 regions with another 71 “lost,” according to the daily air force report.
The report said that as a result of the attack, Dnipropetrovsk, Odessa, Kyiv, and Khmelnytskyi regions “suffered,” but did not provide further details.
On Sunday, the eve of the war's three-year anniversary, Zelenskyy said Russia had launched 267 drones into Ukraine overnight, more than in any other single attack of the war.
-- With files from The Associated Press
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb, 23, 2025.
Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press
