Confusion remains over the meaning of the May 8 ceremony, which was scheduled to coincide with Trudeau’s visit to Ukraine to meet with President Volodomyr Zelenskyy. On a visit to the property this week, the only signs of life are three guards huddled in a small house under the side of the structure. Security guard Sergii Maier, who stayed there while it was closed and was personally thanked for his services during Trudeau’s visit, is one of them. A notice at the front gate of the Canadian embassy informs visitors that the building is closed due to a “security situation”. Ashley Stewart A notice on the steel gates surrounding the building informs visiting Canadians that services have been “temporarily suspended” due to the “security situation.” Story continues below ad An email address is provided for those in Ukraine requiring consular assistance, as well as contact information for the Emergency Monitoring and Response Center in Ottawa. When Global News asked the security guards if we could go in, they said it was closed and gave an email address to contact for help. When we asked if the building was staffed any day of the week, we were told it was not.
Trudeau decries a full reopening
During his May 8 visit, Trudeau was unclear about what the “reopening” meant operationally, or whether Canada’s Ambassador to Ukraine Larisa Galadza — who joined him at the ceremony — would resume her office. there. During his speech, Trudeau commented on Galaja’s return “when the embassy reopens[s].” In his French translation, he said the embassy was reopening that day and Galadza would start working there “now.” Asked by a reporter afterward if the embassy was now officially open, Trudeau ignored the question. Trending Stories
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Story continues below ad 0:32 Canadian embassy in Kyiv reopens for presence on the ground: Trudeau Canadian embassy in Kyiv reopens for presence on the ground: Trudeau – May 10, 2022 A press release later announced that the move marked the first step in the gradual resumption of diplomatic activities in Kyiv. Galadza and a group of staff members will resume diplomatic operations in the city, but consular and immigration services will continue to be provided in Poland and other European cities, the statement said. Galadza is definitely back in Ukraine – she tweeted photos on Friday of Zelenskyy in Odesa overseeing grain exports – but it’s unclear exactly where she is based. Very good to be in Odessa today with @ZelenskyyUa & @OlKubrakov Heard about the latest issues hindering grain and other food exports. But 🇺🇦 is getting ready. I saw this ship in Chornomorsk port being loaded with corn.🤞that 🇹🇷+🇺🇳 will quickly solve problems with Russia pic.twitter.com/ubEoxGc8zg — Larisa Galadza (@LGaladza) July 29, 2022 Story continues below ad Global Affairs Canada declined to answer specific questions about the embassy or Galadza’s work in Kyiv, other than to say that she had returned to continue her “high-level personal diplomatic engagement.” In a statement, they said that the presence of diplomatic personnel in Kyiv is currently at a reduced capacity. “We continue to evaluate the assignment of personnel to Kyiv as we work to gradually restore Canada’s full diplomatic presence and services, in due course.”
The flawed relationship between Canada and Ukraine
In January, Zelenskyy warned countries to order embassy staff and family members to leave the country – such as the United States, Great Britain and Canada – saying “the captains are the last to leave the ship”. Diplomatic relations between Canada and Ukraine have been further tested in recent weeks by Canada’s controversial decision to send parts of a Russian gas pipeline back to Germany. Story continues below ad
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Trudeau reiterated Canada’s support for Ukraine against Russia, according to an official record of the conversation from the prime minister’s office. In Kyiv, this support is represented by a flag flying in front of a closed embassy. But it could be worse — the flag could still be around the side of the building, half-hidden from view, where it was raised during Trudeau’s visit on May 8 — since the mechanisms on the central flagpole at the front of the building they failed repeatedly. © 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
