MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
For immediate release
July 5, 2018
NATO SUMMIT: Calling on
Minister Chrystia Freeland to be tough on Russia
On the eve of the NATO Summit, the Canadian Group for Democracy in Ukraine asks, in a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland, to go beyond sanctions” in punishing Russia. Also, to find a way to admit Ukraine into NATO’s fold by membership or stronger military support.
The Group sees Russia advancing beyond Ukraine in cyber,
propaganda, aggression and chaos because not enough is being done to
help Ukraine win the war against the aggressor.
Russia has seen this for some five years now as Western weakness. Consequently, it is advancing.
The Group calls on Canada to reaffirm its strong support for NATO and lead as the value bearer and strategic adult in the room given the highly personalized and erratic approach to foreign policy by President Donald Trump. It warns members “to approach the Trump/Putin meeting with caution” and urges a pre-meeting and public disassociation from any “nefarious and secret” deals between the two.
NATO needs Ukraine; world peace and security need Ukraine. For nearly five years—and alone-- it has engaged militarily against democracies’ foremost enemy. It’s experience in combatting Russia’s warfare in all its guises — cyber, terror, disinformation, kinetic – is unmatched and beyond any price tag. The letter also seeks a reversal of Nord Stream 2. It’s “a monumental threat” to Europe. “Energy is as much a weapon in Putin's hands as military hardware, cyber - attacks, propaganda, subversion. It makes Russia stronger and Europe weaker. It invites further Russian aggression.” The Group would also like to see Russia ousted from Ukraine by a UN peacekeeping mission.
The Group calls on Canada to reaffirm its strong support for NATO and lead as the value bearer and strategic adult in the room given the highly personalized and erratic approach to foreign policy by President Donald Trump. It warns members “to approach the Trump/Putin meeting with caution” and urges a pre-meeting and public disassociation from any “nefarious and secret” deals between the two.
NATO needs Ukraine; world peace and security need Ukraine. For nearly five years—and alone-- it has engaged militarily against democracies’ foremost enemy. It’s experience in combatting Russia’s warfare in all its guises — cyber, terror, disinformation, kinetic – is unmatched and beyond any price tag. The letter also seeks a reversal of Nord Stream 2. It’s “a monumental threat” to Europe. “Energy is as much a weapon in Putin's hands as military hardware, cyber - attacks, propaganda, subversion. It makes Russia stronger and Europe weaker. It invites further Russian aggression.” The Group would also like to see Russia ousted from Ukraine by a UN peacekeeping mission.
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Contact:
CGfor DU@gmail.com
Oksana Bashuk Hepburn 613 293 9121 oksanabh@sympatico.ca
Myroslava Oleksiuk 416-471-5675 myroslava@rogers.com
The Canadian Group for Democracy in Ukraine is dedicated to the furthering of democracy in Ukraine
