Mr. Speaker, almost two years ago the Russian Federation illegally invaded, occupied, and annexed the internationally recognized Ukrainian territory of Crimea. The Putin regime executed the military takeover response to the Euromaidan protest by the Ukrainian people against their pro-Russian leader Victor Yanukovych. The placement of armed forces in the sovereign territory of another nation is a clear violation of international norms and laws.
The previous Conservative government was a world leader in providing economic, military, and diplomatic assistance to our Ukrainian allies.
We have made it extremely clear that, whether it takes five months or 50 years, Canada will never recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea.
Today, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said:
We have nothing to give.... We are not holding any talks with anyone on returning Crimea.
Unfortunately, the Prime Minister wants to reward the Russian Federation by normalizing relations while the Russian regime is supplying arms and troops in the Donbass conflict in eastern Ukraine.
I am calling upon the government to maintain all sanctions against the Russian Federation and the individuals responsible for the annexation of Crimea and the invasion of the Donbass.