A United Stand: Ukraine and Canada Declare Joint Condemnation of Russia's Aggression and Pledge Sustained Support

In a meeting held in Kyiv on June 10, 2023, the President of Ukraine and the Prime Minister of Canada issued a joint declaration condemning Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine and affirming their unyielding commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The declaration marked a significant milestone in international relations, emphasizing the pivotal role of unity and support in confronting regional crises.

An Unwavering Stand Against Russia's Aggression

Both leaders were unanimous in their staunch disapproval of Russia's unprovoked aggression against Ukraine. They commended the remarkable fortitude demonstrated by Ukraine in exercising its inherent right to self-defence and called for Russia's complete and immediate withdrawal of military forces from Ukraine's territory.

Canada's Unrelenting Commitment

Canada expressed steadfast support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The nation lauded the Ukrainian people's courage and determination, whose fight for their independence, in the face of Russia's violent expansionism, is a testament to democracy and an upholder of the rules-based international system.

The declaration also reassured that Canada will continue its extensive political, financial, humanitarian, and military support for Ukraine, both individually and through international cooperation within the G7, NATO, the United Nations, and other relevant forums.

Canada's Comprehensive Assistance to Ukraine

Since February 2022, Canada has committed over $8 billion in wide-ranging assistance to Ukraine, including unprecedented military support, such as tanks, air-defence systems, and artillery. Furthermore, Canada has extended civilian assistance, which encompasses financial, humanitarian, and emergency support—leading initiatives like issuing the world's first Ukraine Sovereignty Bonds.

Support for a Just and Sustainable Peace

Canada backed Ukraine's initiative for a sustainable peace grounded on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It appreciated the principles of the Ukrainian Peace Formula and pledged to focus its support on Ukraine’s critical needs outlined in the Formula. Canada is ready to cooperate with Ukraine and others to ensure international participation in pursuing peace, including through an upcoming Global Peace Summit.

Alleviating Global Crises

Recognizing the wider global implications of Russia's war, such as exacerbating global energy and food crises, Ukraine and Canada committed to alleviate these consequences, including through engagement with partners in the Global South. They also highlighted the significance of initiatives like the Black Sea Grain Initiative in combatting global hunger.

Ensuring Accountability and Justice

Ukraine and Canada expressed their united stand against impunity and committed to ensuring justice for those responsible for war crimes and atrocity crimes committed in Russia’s war of aggression. They also reiterated their support for the investigations of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.

Increasing Pressure on Russia

The two countries agreed on the need to increase collective pressure on Russia through further sanctions to weaken Russia’s ability to continue its aggression. They also discussed efforts to ensure the effective implementation of these sanctions and to prevent circumvention in and by third countries.

Compensation and Reconstruction

Ukraine and Canada are committed to developing mechanisms to provide compensation for losses, injuries, and damages caused by Russian aggression. Canada, as the first country to initiate a process to seize and pursue the forfeiture of assets belonging to sanctioned individuals or organizations, plans to use the proceeds to support Ukraine's reconstruction and compensate victims of Russia’s aggression.

Commitment to Ukraine’s Recovery

Canada, together with international organizations and partners, pledged to participate in Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction. It emphasized the need for an ambitious and long-term engagement to create opportunities for the Ukrainian people based on a transparent, inclusive national reconstruction architecture supported by key democratic reforms.

NATO and Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic Path

Within the NATO framework, Canada reiterated that Ukraine has the right to determine its own security arrangements. Canada's focus is on immediate support to strengthen Ukraine's capacity to defend itself, and fully backs the NATO-Ukraine Council as a platform to further expand ongoing cooperation. Consistent with the Bucharest Declaration, Canada supports Ukraine's journey towards joining the Euro-Atlantic family, and is prepared to champion Ukraine's membership in NATO once conditions permit. Both Ukraine and Canada are looking forward to addressing these issues at the forthcoming NATO Summit in Vilnius in July 2023.

An Enduring Partnership

On December 2, 1991, Canada became the first Western country to recognize Ukraine's independence. Over 30 years later, Canada's steadfast support for Ukraine remains unwavering. As the Ukrainian people continue their fight for independence, democracy, and freedom, Canada stands firmly beside them, pledging its unyielding support and commitment.

The joint declaration serves as a testament to the strength of the bond between Ukraine and Canada, and their shared commitment to democracy, justice, and the principles of international law. As a beacon of hope in a time of conflict and uncertainty, this partnership is a resounding assertion that the international community will not stand idly by in the face of aggression, but rather rise in unity and determination to uphold justice and peace.

The declaration was signed by both leaders on June 10, 2023 in Kyiv, Ukraine, underscoring their mutual pledge to safeguard Ukraine's sovereignty and promote global peace and stability.

1.    The President of Ukraine and the Prime Minister of Canada reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. Ukraine has shown remarkable determination in exercising its inherent right to self-defence against this unprovoked and unjustified invasion. Russia must immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

2.    Canada remains unwavering in its commitment to Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. Canada commends the determination and courage of the Ukrainian people and armed forces in defence of their independence. Their resolve and valour on democracy’s front line are not only safeguarding the security of Europe in the face of Russia’s violent expansionism, but also bolstering the rules-based international system and demonstrating that no matter how brutal the foe, might does not make right.

3.    As they do so, the people of Ukraine can count on Canada to continue its political, financial, humanitarian and military support for as long as it takes – individually and through international cooperation within the G7, NATO, the United Nations and any other forum where Canada can bring its weight to bear.

4.     Since February 2022, Canada has committed over $8 billion in wide-ranging assistance to Ukraine. Canada is providing unprecedented military support, including tanks, air-defence systems and artillery, and continues to develop new assistance measures based on Ukraine’s needs.

5.    Beyond military assistance, Canada has provided Ukraine with civilian assistance, including financial, humanitarian and emergency support ranging from economic assistance to contributions to demining efforts to save civilian lives. In several areas Canada has led the way, such as by issuing the world’s first Ukraine Sovereignty Bonds.

6.    Canada supports Ukraine's initiative for a just and sustainable peace based on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and commends the key principles of the Ukrainian Peace Formula. Canada is providing significant contributions under several points identified in the Formula, including nuclear safety, food security, accountability and ecological safety. Looking forward, Canada will continue to focus its support on Ukraine’s greatest needs, with a particular focus on those outlined in the Formula. Canada stands ready to cooperate with Ukraine and with others to ensure as wide an international participation as possible in pursuing the Peace Formula’s objectives, including through an upcoming Global Peace Summit and any other appropriate diplomatic initiatives.

7.    Ukraine and Canada recognize that Russia’s war has had significant and wide-ranging consequences outside Ukraine, including worsened global energy and food crises. These effects have been felt most acutely by the most vulnerable. Ukraine and Canada commit to continuing to work to alleviate these consequences, including through engagement with partners in the Global South. The two countries also reiterate the crucial role of the Black Sea Grain Initiative in helping to relieve global hunger, and the need to ensure its continued and unhindered operation. Canada commends Ukraine’s ongoing efforts both to implement the Black Sea Grain Initiative and to contribute to global food security through other projects, such as the Grain from Ukraine initiative.

8.    Ukraine and Canada are united in their determination to fight against impunity, and underline their firm commitment to bringing to justice those responsible for war crimes and other atrocity crimes committed in Russia’s war of aggression. Canada supports international efforts in this regard and is a member of the Core Group studying options to ensure accountability for the crime of aggression, for which broad international support is essential. Ukraine and Canada also reiterate their support for the investigations of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, which are a step toward accountability, and have taken note of the court’s arrest warrants. Canada was among the countries that first referred Russia’s actions in Ukraine to the Court in March 2022, and has sent a team of investigators to support its important work.

9.    Ukraine and Canada agree on the need to increase our collective pressure on Russia through further sanctions to weaken Russia’s ability to continue its illegal war of aggression. Furthermore, they agree on the need to strengthen efforts to ensure the effective implementation of sanctions and to prevent and counter circumvention in and by third countries.

10.    Ukraine and Canada will continue to work together with others to develop mechanisms to provide compensation for losses, injuries and damages caused by the Russian aggression. Canada was the first country to launch a process to seize and pursue the forfeiture of assets belonging to sanctioned individuals or organizations, with a view to ultimately using the proceeds to support the reconstruction of Ukraine and compensate the victims of Russia’s illegal and unjustifiable invasion. Canada also joined the Council of Europe’s Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation Against Ukraine as a founding associate member on May 17, 2023. Canada will continue to explore appropriate options for the use of frozen and immobilized Russian assets to support Ukraine’s reconstruction and for the purposes of reparation.

11.    Canada, together with international organizations and international partners, is committed to participate in the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine. Already now, it is important to lay the ground for an ambitious and long-term engagement that will create opportunities and enable the Ukrainian people to rebuild their country, based on a transparent and inclusive national reconstruction architecture supported by key reforms based on democratic principles. Engaging all relevant partners, including the private sector as well as national and international organizations and financial institutions, is essential to ensure a prosperous future for Ukraine.

12.    In the NATO framework, Canada recalls that Ukraine has the right to choose its own security arrangements. Canada continues to focus on immediate support to bolster Ukraine’s capacity to defend itself. Canada fully supports the NATO-Ukraine Council as a venue to further increase and expand ongoing cooperation to help fulfil Ukraine’s path towards the Euro-Atlantic family, consistent with the Bucharest Declaration. Canada supports Ukraine to become a NATO member as soon as conditions allow for it. Ukraine and Canada look forward to addressing these issues at the NATO Summit in Vilnius in July 2023.

13.    On December 2, 1991, Canada became the first Western country to recognize Ukraine’s independence. More than 30 years later, Canada continues to stand with the people of Ukraine as they fight for their independence, democracy and freedom.

Signed in duplicate in Kyiv, Ukraine on June 10, 2023 in the English language.