On 17 September 2014, during an official visit to Ottawa, Canada, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko discussed current Ukrainian issues with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and addressed a joint sitting of the Parliament of Canada.
Addressing Parliament, President Petro Poroshenko stated:
I think that war in the East of Ukraine is war against terrorism. It is our common war. I am confident of that.
With your support, with the support of global community we will win this struggle. And we will fulfill the dreams of many Ukrainians in our homeland and across the world – Ukraine will be a strong, independent European nation.
Yesterday was one of the most important days in the history of Ukraine. The Verkhovna Rada ratified the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement. When I was in the Parliament yesterday presenting the Association Agreement, coordinated and synchronized with the European Parliament, it was the last “farewell” from Ukraine to the Soviet Union.
It was the last Rubicon that we had to cross. We will never return to our awful past.
Canada recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, all of Ukraine. And whether it takes five months or 50 years to liberate it, we will never, ever recognize the illegal occupation of any Ukrainian territory.
Attending the address to Parliament were UWC President Eugene Czolij and a delegation of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress led by President Paul Grod. They also had the opportunity to meet privately with President Poroshenko.
In addition, the President of Ukraine greeted Ukrainian Canadians who had gathered on Parliament Hill in support of the President and the people of Ukraine.
The rally was also addressed by UWC President Eugene Czolij. He emphasized that today’s military aggression by the Russian Federation is an international crisis with its epicentre in Ukraine, and he called upon the international community to unite its efforts to defend Ukraine while securing peace and security in Europe and the world.
“The Ukrainian World Congress calls upon the Government of Canada to continue taking the lead in supporting Ukraine in this extremely difficult time,” appealed UWC President Eugene Czolij.
