Ukraine and Canada Have Historically Good Relations That Should Be Maintained and Strategically Developed – The President During a Meeting with Ukrainian Community in Toronto

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with representatives of the Ukrainian community in Canada, marking 135 years since the first Ukrainian immigrants arrived in the country. The meeting was attended by leaders and representatives of various Ukrainian organizations, totaling over 1,000 across Canada. President Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of maintaining and developing Ukraine-Canada relations, noting that strong personal ties and connections are crucial to this effort.

A historic 100-year partnership agreement between Ukraine and Canada was signed just the day before the meeting. Canada is also providing a significant defense support package for Ukraine, primarily for the purchase of missiles for Patriot systems. The Ukrainian community in Canada is eager to assist in putting these agreements into practice and is encouraged by recent joint Ukrainian-Canadian production demonstrations, with several products already in mass production.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress' President, Alexandra Chyczij, stressed the need for advocacy work to help implement the agreements. The Ukrainian World Congress President, Paul Grod, expressed hope for the establishment of a World Ukrainian Day and emphasized the urgent need for European support. Canadian Liberal Member of Parliament Yvan Baker highlighted the importance of convincing Canadians to support Ukraine's victory, as Russia's aggression could extend to NATO countries.

The President also discussed Ukraine's European integration, stating that the EU recognizes the Ukrainian people's significant contribution to European security. It is hoped that after the war, Ukraine will focus on rebuilding, with the assistance of Ukrainians in Canada being particularly valuable.