Canadians launch protest against Trudeau govt's decision to exempt gas turbines sanctions against Russia

Contrary to Canada's previous decision that its German ally relies on the natural gas supply from the pipeline, the government’s controversial order earlier this month of exempting gas turbine sanctions against Russia has angered both Canadians and the Ukrainian government.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy told his Canadian PM Justin Trudeau in a phone call, that he should uphold sanctions against Russia at a time when relations between Canada and Ukraine are strained by the latter's decision to send parts of a Russian natural gas pipeline back to Germany.

Recapping their conversation in a short statement shared on Twitter, Zelenskiy thanked Trudeau for the continued powerful defence support his country has received but also raised the importance of upholding the sanctions

Zelenskiy added that after the terrorist attacks in Vinnytsia, Mykolaiv, Chasiv Yar, etc. the pressure must be increased, not decreased.

According to an official account of the discussion from the Prime Minister’s Office, Trudeau reiterated Canada’s support for Ukraine against Russia’s military aggression.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress along with the ambassadors of Ukraine, Germany, and the European Union to Canada are expected to appear at a Foreign Affairs Committee meeting to discuss the decision.

Melanie Joly, Foreign Affairs Minister, and Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources have also been summoned to the committee to answer questions about the exception.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)