Canada is pledging $500-million for Ukraine’s military as part of efforts to isolate Russia on the world stage.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly announced the funding at the G20 leaders’ summit in Indonesia, where some countries say they want to preserve good relations with Russia.
The commitment means Ukraine’s armed forces will receive surveillance and communications equipment, as well as fuel and medical supplies.
The pledge is on top of the same amount the federal Liberal government announced in its budget this past spring.
Canada also announced new sanctions against 23 Russians whom Ms. Joly says have violated the human rights of opposition leaders.
Also Monday, Russia barred entry to 100 Canadians in retaliation for Ottawa’s exclusion of Russian citizens, the latest wave of a long series of tit-for-tat expulsions from Russia and Western countries over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the Canadians added to its sanctions list included officials, business leaders and people involved with “media and financial structures that are directly involved in the formation of an aggressive anti-Russian course.”
The list included Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, managers at Volatus Aerospace Corp, a handful of correspondents at the CBC and several members of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation as well as other politicians, commentators, industrialists and activists.
Melanie Joly unveils sanctions, $500-million for Ukraine military at G20
The statement also said author Margaret Atwood, actor Jim Carrey and Amy Knight, a noted historian of the KGB, were on the banned list.
They are among another 97, many of whom are connected to ethnic Ukrainian organizations.
With a report from the Associated Press