Toronto.- The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskybegan his first official visit this Friday to Canada since the start of the Russian invasion with a meeting in Ottawa with the governor general of the country, Mary Simonwho exercises the functions of head of state.

Following his meeting with Simon, Zelensky, who is traveling with his wife, Olena Zelenskaplans to go to the Canadian Parliament, where he will be received by the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau.

Trudeau and Zelensky to hold bilateral meeting in which they will address the war in Ukraine. The two leaders are expected to sign an agreement aimed at strengthening economic relations between Ottawa and kyiv.

Later, the Ukrainian president will deliver a speech in the House of Commons of the Canadian Parliament.

In the afternoon, Zelensky will travel with Trudeau to Torontothe economic capital of Canada, to meet a group of leading businessmen and promote Canadian investments in the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Before leaving Canada, Zelensky will hold a meeting in Toronto with representatives of the Ukrainian community.

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About 1.4 million Canadians are of Ukrainian origin, almost 4% of the country’s population, including Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.

Canada has become one of Ukraine’s main allies in its war against Russia.. Since January 2022, Ottawa has committed more than C$8.9 billion (US$6.615 million) in aid to Kyiv.

Of that figure, some C$4.95 billion is made up of direct financial aid and C$1.8 billion in military aid, which includes everything from the delivery of Leopard 2 tanks to air defense systems and more. by artillery, armored vehicles and munitions.

In addition, Canada this year provided a loan of 2.4 billion Canadian dollars to Ukraine to meet the country’s budgetary needs.

Ottawa has also imposed sanctions on more than 2,600 individuals and entities linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine since Moscow authorities illegally annexed the Crimean peninsula in 2014.

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