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Trudeau calls for stronger support for Ukraine in wake of G20 statement

Prime minister also expresses concern about role Trump election may have in conflict
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a press conference during the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the final leadersBԪַ statement from the G20 summit in Brazil is not strong enough on the war in Ukraine.

He is also expressing some concern about the impact U.S. president-elect Donald TrumpBԪַs return to the White House will have on global support for Ukraine.

Russia is a member of the G20 but President Vladimir Putin has not attended a leadersBԪַ summit since before Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

That year the G20 leadersBԪַ final statement condemned RussiaBԪַs actions and demanded it withdraw from Ukraine.

A year later the leadersBԪַ summit ended with watered-down language about the war, and the final statement from Brazil today was even shorter and did not mention Russia at all.

Trudeau says Canada and other G7 nations and BԪַadvanced economiesBԪַ wanted a much stronger statement against the BԪַillegal invasion of UkraineBԪַ but the G20 has broader perspectives.

BԪַNo itBԪַs not strong enough for me,BԪַ he said.

Trump and his allies have criticized AmericaBԪַs financial support Ukraine and there are concerns the Republicans, who will soon have full control of the White House and Congress, will drastically scale back American backing for Ukraine.

Some of TrumpBԪַs allies heavily criticized outgoing President Joe Biden after he authorized this week Ukraine the use of long-range U.S. missiles to attack inside Russia.

TrumpBԪַs son Donald Trump Jr. and Utah Sen. Mike Lee were among those who accused Biden of trying to start BԪַworld war three.BԪַ

Trudeau and Biden discussed Ukraine in a 30-minute bilateral meeting in Brazil on Monday and Trudeau said Tuesday that Canada stands behind BidenBԪַs decision.

BԪַI have for months now talked about how important it is to degrade the capacity of the Russian military to strike into Ukraine with impunity because Ukraine hasnBԪַt been able to strike on factories and military production sites in Russia,BԪַ Trudeau said in a press conference from Rio de Janeiro Tuesday.

BԪַWe have called for that for a while. So I think itBԪַs a good thing that the United States has done that and other partners are doing that.BԪַ

Trudeau said the summit came BԪַat a particularly challenging time in the world, for geopolitics but also for citizens all around the world,BԪַ due to inflation, war and climate change.

BԪַThe world is not what it was 10 years ago,BԪַ he said.

Trudeau acknowledged that TrumpBԪַs re-election has raised concerns about a number of issues, including climate change and multilateralism.

For Canada, continental trade is also top of mind as Trump has threatened to introduce new border tariffs and the updated North American trade agreement signed in TrumpBԪַs first term comes up for review in 2026.

There have been calls from premiers in Ontario and Alberta for Canada to consider shutting Mexico out of those talks as heavy levels of Chinese investment in Mexico have raised questions that it has become a back door into the North American market for Chinese goods.

Both Canada and the U.S. have imposed high tariffs on a number of Chinese-made goods including electric vehicles, steel and aluminum products. They both accuse China of overproduction and dumping.

While in Brazil Trudeau met with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, having their first in-person discussion since her inauguration in October.

Just before that meeting Trudeau publicly raised concern about the high levels of Chinese investment in Mexico.

Trudeau told reporters Tuesday that he BԪַhighlighted directlyBԪַ that concern with Sheinbaum in their meeting, while adding that Canada wants to have strong trade that benefits all citizens in North America.

BԪַBut itBԪַs up to the Mexican government to consider what position theyBԪַll take,BԪַ he said in French.

The summit comes ahead of Canada assuming the presidency of the G7, a group of powerful economies with like-minded views on geopolitics. Last time Canada hosted the G7 leadersBԪַ summit in 2018, Trump infamously stormed out after tense exchanges over the steel and aluminum tariffs he imposed on Canada. He called Trudeau BԪַdishonest and weak.BԪַ

The prime minister said he is not panicked about next yearBԪַs summit in Alberta.

BԪַThe challenge of working with an American president that doesnBԪַt always put multilateralism and summitry at a high priority is going to be real, but we navigated it successfully,BԪַ he said, noting progress at that summit on artificial intelligence and girlsBԪַ education.

BԪַWhen we stay focused on what matters for Canadians, on the principles and the things that are impacting everyone around the world BԪַ including American citizens BԪַ thereBԪַs always ways of getting through.BԪַ

Trudeau added that South Africa is aligned on that approach as it hosts the G20 next year, with a focus on how emerging economies can secure more energy.

Last week in Peru, Trudeau announced Canada would push for more nuclear-power collaboration with Southeast Asian countries, and he said that will be a key way Canada tries to form alliances with countries closer to China and India than with Western powers.





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