Canadian Group for Democracy in Ukraine
Groupe canadien pour la démocratie en Ukraine
Канадськa Група сприяння демократії в Україні
CGforDU@gmail.com
http://cg4du.blogspot.com https://www.facebook. com/groups/cg4du/
April 21, 2021
Rt. Honourable Justin Trudeau Prime Minister of Canada House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6 PM@pm.gc.ca
Dear Prime Minister,
We are writing about a most troubling concern: the war that Russia is escalating in Ukraine with total disregard for international law and opinion of the world.
We are somewhat heartened by the latest sanctions that the United States imposed on Russia, in particular those dealing with banking, and encouraged by Canada’s support. However, we believe that even these increases will not be enough to stop President Vladimir Putin’s criminality. Some twenty years of his disdain for global law and order show that insufficient punishment for his violations only motivates his dictatorial bent to greater evil.
The punishment for his crimes, therefore, must be punitive enough this time to put him on the defensive and submit to law and order.
To this end we put forward for your consideration a bold new initiative of sterner measures intended to resolve Russia’s war in Ukraine and earn a global victory for democracy against President Putin’s dictatorship.
The key elements of the initiative are
1. The withdrawal of Russia’s troops and its proxies from Ukraine’s territories by August 24, 2021 Ukraine’s Day of Independence:
2. Failure to withdraw will precipitate the following actions
2.1 Increase the sanctions by adding President Putin and other Russian leaders and their families to the list,
2.2 Freeze assets in the West of all sanctioned entities,
2.3 Commence the removal of Russia’s banks from SWIFT,
2.4 Oblige Ukraine to squash the failed Minsk agreements due to the never-ending
violations by Russia, to be replaced by a new agreement with the participation of
the United States and led by a country like Canada, and
2.5 Grant Ukraine NATO membership.
Prime Minister, we believe that matching Russia’s violation with equally tough measures is the only way to stop its escalations world-wide the latest being the provocative escalations on Ukraine’s borders, the closing of the Kerch Strait, laying exclusive claim to the resources under the Arctic Ocean – very relevant to Canada – and spreading fake messages about the Coronavirus and the dangers of vaccinations.
Although the main thrust of the initiative is to end Russia’s monstrosity in Ukraine the overarching goal is for our democratic values to win; not his dictatorial whims.
As you know, it was Ukraine’s democratic choice that led to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the Donbas war. Ukraine’s resistance to the Kremlin shines a bad light on President Putin and strengthens oppositionists like Alexey Navalny. This frightens him. He is also afraid of a strong United States, a unified NATO especially with Ukraine in it. He will bluster and threaten but will protect his assets in the West by not retaliating. Prime Minister, Ukraine must be inside the Alliance if democracy is to win against this dangerous deviant. Ukraine in NATO is the ultimate deterrent to Russia and thereby peace.
We hope that our long-standing relations and special status with Ukraine will motivate Canada to champion this vitally important initiative with our friends and allies and in so doing halt President Putin’s ongoing recalcitrance, a threat to all.
We thank you in advance for your ongoing attention to issues of concern and especially for you attention to this critical matter in these very dangerous times that Russia has inflicted on all of us.
Warmest regards,
For the Group
Myroslava Oleksiuk
Oksana Bashuk Hepburn Olya Helen Moscicky
Dr. Ihor Cap Myroslava Oleksiuk
Ariana Gic Marta Onufriv
Libid Zyla Harder Dr. Lada Roslycky
Victoria Karpiak Victor Rud
Mary Komarynsky Roman Sohn
cc.
The Hon. Chrystia Freeland, M.P. Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance
The Hon. Marc Garneau, M.P. Minister of Foreign Affairs
The Hon. Harjit Singh Sajjan, M.P. Minister of National Defence
The Hon. Erin O’Toole MP. Leader of the Opposition
Jagmeet Singh, M.P. Leader of NDP
Yvan Baker, M.P., Chair, Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group
Arif Virani, M.P.
Ambassador Larisa Galadza,
Ambassador Andriy Shevchenko
Alexandra Chyczij, President, Ukrainian Canadian Congress
Paul Grod, President, Ukrainian World Congress
World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations
Ihor Mychalchyshyn, Executive Director, UCC
Ukrainian Congress Committee of America
