Despite PM's 'surprise' photo op, Canada's Kyiv embassy remains shuttered
2022. 7. 30. 03:11ㆍ■ 국제/CANADA
Despite PM's 'surprise' photo op, Canada's Kyiv embassy remains shuttered (msn.com)
Despite PM's 'surprise' photo op, Canada's Kyiv embassy remains shuttered
Bryan Passifiume - 57m ago
OTTAWA — Nearly three months after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a surprise visit to Kyiv to officially reopen our country’s embassy there, Canada’s diplomatic presence in the war-torn nation’s capital remains shuttered.
© Provided by National PostUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a joint press conference in Kyiv on May 8, 2022 amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Global News reporter Ashleigh Stewart first reported the closure on Thursday, tweeting photos of Canada’s Kostelna Street chancery with a laminated sign taped to its iron gates informing visitors — in both English and French — that the embassy has “suspended its operations due to the security situation.”
The sign directs those seeking consular services to book an appointment at the Canadian consulate in Lviv, about 450 kilometres west of Kyiv near the Polish border.
The wording of the sign matches that found on Global Affairs Canada’s website.
Canada’s Ukrainian embassy was abandoned in February as the security situation deteriorated within the country.
In early May, Trudeau made a surprise visit to Ukraine to, according to sources who spoke with CBC News, show solidarity with the Ukrainian people and see the devastation of Russia’s invasion first hand.
Canada and the PM were also under mounting pressure as the list of world leaders making similar gestures and attending face-to-face meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy grew.
The prime minister’s visit culminated in a flag-raising ceremony in the embassy’s courtyard, joined by Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and Canada’s Ambassador to Ukraine Larisa Galadza.
“This flag came down Feb. 13, and we’re really glad to be raising it again above the Canadian embassy,” the prime minister said during the visit.
At the time, Canada was facing criticism for not returning its embassy staff earlier, but now three months later it’s clear the embassy never reopened after the prime minister’s May visit.
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