Ukrainian Community in Ottawa marks 3rd Year of full-scale invasion to Ukraine

For three years, Ukrainians have courageously and heroically defended their country and the freedom of Europe from Russia’s genocidal war.

The Russians thought they were embarking on a war of conquest that would last three days. Instead, three years later, Ukraine stands. Kyiv, the capital, is free. The Ukrainian people stand united in defiance to Russian tyranny. And we Stand With Ukraine!

We are grateful to Canada for the assistance provided to date. But Ukraine needs more weapons and aid to secure victory.

Canada’s Parliament has unanimously recognized that “the Russian Federation is committing acts of genocide against the Ukrainian people.”

There can be no compromise with genocide. Russia must be defeated. In Ukrainian cities and towns under Russian occupation, Russia executes Ukrainian civilians en masse. Russian soldiers are raping Ukrainian women and girls.

Russia is abducting Ukrainian children – and forcing Ukrainian children into re-education camps. Russia is trying to erase the Ukrainian identity and culture of a generation of Ukrainian children.

While Ukrainian authorities have been able to identify over 20,000 children stolen by Russia. The total number of Ukrainian children abducted is far, far higher.

The only way this war will end is with victory for Ukraine.

Anything short of Ukrainian Victory is inviting further invasion from Russia - but this time into NATO countries, which will require Canadians to put boots on the ground to defend their NATO allies.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a test of NATO resolve, and if Ukraine fails, NATO will have failed the test. Ukraine’s defiance of Russian subjugation is the heroism of a free people defending their homes and their families.

The Ukrainian people do not tire. And we do not have the right to be tired.

This war will end when the allies give Ukraine what Ukraine needs to win. We need to give Ukraine what Ukraine needs to expel the Russian army out of Ukraine. We need to give Ukraine what Ukraine needs to regain her sovereign territory and to reclaim her citizens, and most importantly to reclaim her children.

Ensuring that Ukraine defeats Russia is not only the right thing to do. It is an investment in our own security. Ukraine is defending our own freedom.

Ukraine needs far more weapons and far economic support than we have provided to win the war. There is over $300 billion in Russian state, sovereign and central bank assets frozen in the West – mostly in the EU, UK and US. Canada and our allies need to make these assets available to Ukraine as soon as possible.

Our community calls on the Canadian Government to:

1. Provide more military and economic aid to Ukraine.

2. Be tougher on Russia – throw out Russian diplomats, declare Russia a terrorist state; strengthen sanctions on Russia; confiscate Russian assets; and take action against Russian interference.

3. Continue to assist the Ukrainians who are displaced in Canada.

STAND WITH UKRAINE!