China News Agency, Toronto, February 24 (Reporter Yu Ruidong) The Canadian government announced a series of "additional" sanctions against Russia on the 24th in response to Russia's special military action in the Donbas region.
But Canada's defense minister said it would not send troops to fight in Ukraine at this time.
On the same day, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, expressing Canada's solidarity with Ukraine.
The Canadian side expressed its "strongest condemnation" to Russia.
Newly added to the sanctions list by Canada include 31 individuals who are considered key members of Russian President Vladimir Putin's "inner circle", family members or close relatives of some individuals who have been sanctioned, 27 important financial institutions, and alleged relatives. 4 Ukrainians from Russia.
The sanctions also include members of the Russian Security Council, including the defense ministers, finance ministers and justice ministers.
At the same time, in addition to some important medical supply chains, the Canadian side suspended new applications for export licenses to Russia and cancelled existing export licenses.
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Jolly said that Canada will immediately cancel hundreds of export licenses to Russia involving aviation parts, technology, minerals and other fields with a total value of more than 700 million Canadian dollars.
The Canadian side will also set up a dedicated service channel for Ukrainian immigration applications and exempt related fees.
Canada has now suspended all embassies and consulates in Ukraine.
The personnel involved have been transferred to Poland.
Ukrainian Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Freeland said in Ukrainian to the media that Ukraine is not dead.
She also criticized Putin in Russian.
After Russia recognized the two "republics" in eastern Ukraine on the 21st, the Canadian side announced a series of new sanctions against Russia on the 22nd.
These include restrictions on personnel related to the Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament); a transaction ban on non-government-controlled areas in Donetsk and Luhansk; a new ban on direct and indirect transactions in Russia's sovereign debt.
The Canadian side also announced the deployment or redeployment of military personnel, frigates, and patrol aircraft to support NATO operations.
Another approximately 3,400 Canadian military personnel are on standby to respond to NATO response force needs.
However, Canadian Defense Minister Anand responded in an interview with Canadian Television (CTV) on the 24th that at present, Canada has no plans to send its troops to Ukraine to perform combat missions.
The Russian embassy in Canada said in a statement on the 24th that Russia has been expressing concern about NATO expansion for at least the past 20 years.
But all Russian efforts have been ignored or treated arrogantly.
The Russian side has always advocated for Ukraine to implement the new Minsk agreement, but the West has rejected this, so the Minsk process is invalid.
Attempts by the West to turn Ukraine into an "anti-Russian" state will not succeed.
But Russia is still willing to engage in meaningful dialogue with a view to building a comprehensive security system in Europe and the Euro-Atlantic region.
(over)