Canada’s PM: ‘Putin cannot be trusted, but he can be stopped’

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday said Canada had learned from history and did not trust Russian President Vladimir Putin, stressing that real peace and security for Ukraine were only possible with reliable guarantees.

Speaking on Ukraine’s Independence Day during his first visit to Kyiv, Carney compared the current situation to Ronald Reagan’s talks with the USSR, recalling the motto “trust, but verify.” However, he underlined that “Putin is not Gorbachev – he seeks empire, not reform.”

Carney noted Putin had repeatedly broken promises, from the Minsk agreements to the present day, and is responsible for “thousands of deaths” and “millions injured” or displaced.

“He started this horrific tragedy that has claimed millions of lives. He terrorises your skies, threatens your cities, and abducts your children. But Putin can be stopped – Russia’s economy is weakening, the country is increasingly isolated, and his adversaries are growing stronger and more determined”, Carney said.

During his visit, the Canadian Prime Minister also announced increased support for Ukraine.