KIEV (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 17th January, 2022) Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly will pay a six-day working visit to Kiev to reaffirm Ottawa's support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity amid increasing tensions with Russia, media reported, citing Joly's office.
According to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Joly will meet with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna. In addition, Joly is expected to visit Canadian military personnel deployed in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry confirmed the upcoming visit on Facebook, saying Joly was expected in Kiev from January 17-18 at the invitation of Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. They will discuss Russian containment and Ukrainian security, it said.
The news comes days after Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelenskyy spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about security issues and de-escalation in Donbass, where Canada has maintained a peacekeeping mission since 2015.
Canada's Operation UNIFIER was launched in 2015 at the request of Ukraine. According to the agreement, Canada sends nearly 200 soldiers every six months to the republic. The operation is due to conclude in March 2022.
