Canadian ties to Ukraine long used as wedge against Russia

 

Chants of “CA-NA-DA” at rallies. The Maple Leaf waving at protest camps. A Canadian labeled “godfather” of its military. Canada has long had significant influence in Ukraine, which it has used to drive a centuries old bid to weaken Russia.

In “Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom” the camera pans over a Maple Leaf hanging from a tent at the 2014 Maidan protest, which forced out an elected president and led to an eight-year war in the country’s east. Why was the Canadian flag on display?

The federal government and ultranationalist Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) poured funds into western oriented civil society groups and encouraged the Maidan protests by demonizing President Viktor Yanukovych throughout his time in office. In an October 2011 letter threatening to sever Canada’s “special” relationship with Ukraine, Harper wrote, “I cannot overstate the potential negative impact of the current judicial proceedings against [former presidential candidate] Yulia Tymoshenko on both Ukraine’s future relations with Canada and others.”

Early in the three month protest movement Canada’s foreign minister John Baird visited Maidan square with UCC president Paul Grod. From the stage Grod announced Baird’s presence and support for the protesters, which led many to chant “Thank you Canada”.

The individual who became president three months after the Maidan protests said, “Canada is one of Ukraine’s closest partners”. During his September 2014 visit to Ottawa Petro Poroshenko added that Ukraine had “no better friend”. (Countering President Poroshenko’s statement, the Canadian Press story revealing that Maidan protesters had used the Canadian Embassy for a week noted, “Canadians are not very popular in some quarters and occasionally loathed by pro-Russian Ukrainians.”)

Canada’s influence in a country 7,000 km away has been staggering.  (more...)

Canadian ties to Ukraine long used as wedge against Russia

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