'Harsh times reveal true friends': European Commission president addresses Canadian Parliament
CTV
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen rounded out her two-day visit to Canada with a speech to Parliament Tuesday night, highlighting the close relationship between Canada and Europe, and underscoring the importance of staying united with Ukraine against Russia.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen rounded out her two-day visit to Canada with a speech to Parliament Tuesday night, highlighting the close relationship between Canada and Europe, and underscoring the importance of staying united with Ukraine against Russia.
Von der Leyen’s trip to Kingston, Ont. and Ottawa has focused on clean energy, trade, and support for Ukraine, all themes she delved into in her remarks to Members of Parliament and senators.
Von der Leyen began her address by recognizing the connections between Canada and the European Union, saying “harsh times reveal true friends,” before highlighting the global impacts of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“All of this because President Putin refuses to recognize (Ukraine’s) freedom and (its) independence, and this we can simply not accept,” von der Leyen told the House of Commons before a standing ovation.
She called Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a threat to “European security” and to “the very foundation of our international community.”
“We will stand up for Ukraine to be the master of their own future. Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, and we will keep supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes,” she also said, to more applause from parliamentarians.
Ahead of her remarks, von der Leyen and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau toured the Canadian Forces Base Kingston Tuesday, where during a joint press conference she called Canada “one of the European Union’s most trusted partners.”
