Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
We're meeting at a very solemn and difficult time. I want to stress to all of you that I'm available for your questions. The only problem I may have towards the end of the period is that our slot speaking at the General Assembly is then. If it comes up, I will have to go. However, I'm ably assisted by my colleagues from the department, as well as Major-General Prévost and Mr. Gionet. I'm very much looking forward to this opportunity to speak.
We are at an incredibly serious time. The invasion of Ukraine without justification, unprovoked, is the most serious act of aggression we have seen in Europe since 1945.
As you all know very well, the situation is quite serious.
First of all, the humanitarian situation continues to worsen. Over 368,000 people have left the country as refugees, and a larger number are internally displaced within Ukraine. We are seeing around the clock what a tragic situation this is.
In my remarks, I will comment briefly on the issue of sanctions and the question of the supports we're providing to the people and the Government of Ukraine. I will look as well at our consular response. Obviously, I will keep to the time frame, so you'll have to appreciate that my comments will be somewhat abbreviated.
The first thing on sanctions that I want to stress is that many thought that western countries would not be able to come together with respect to the actions required to deal with the invasion. That has proven to be completely false. We are now seeing an unprecedented degree of co-operation and a more intense solidarity than has been present in many, many other crises. The sanctions that have been posed on Russia—on its financial institutions, on targeted individuals, on many of those seen as being responsible for what has taken place, including President Putin, his cabinet and his foreign minister—are without precedent. They are already having a most dramatic impact on the Russian economy and, unfortunately, on the Russian people, because there is no choice.
It's important to stress as well that the assistance we're providing to Ukraine is not only humanitarian. The financial assistance we've been able to provide to the government on the defence side, which General Prévost will be talking about, is a very clear indication of our support.
Let me stress that Canada's support, friendship and partnership with Ukraine date back decades. There's the support we provided during the years of oppression under the U.S.S.R.; the support we provided under Prime Minister Mulroney following the declaration of independence of Ukraine; and the support we have provided over many years in terms of trade, commerce, consular and, in particular in the last seven years, military. Canada is responsible for the training of over 30,000 members of the Ukraine armed services.
Finally, on the consular response, which Julie Sunday can speak to more directly, I just want to stress the extent to which we have truly tried to mobilize as quickly as possible in response to the seriousness of the situation.
We agree that there is still much work to be done.
I am now ready to answer your questions.
Thank you very much. It's a pleasure and an honour to participate in this discussion.