Welcome to the Canadian National Multilingual News Group (CNMNG). This is a project made possible through funding by Canadian Heritage. CNMNG aims to gather news researched and written by a corps of Canadian-based journalists/writers from the country’s multilingual community groups. The overall goal is to inform, analyze and critique the issues of the day in a professional manner and to provide that to publishers and editors active in the ethnocultural-multilingual press and media whose experience provides them with a perspective that is sensitive to news relevant to their own language group.
OTTAWA – After speaking by video conference at the House of Commons in Ottawa on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke before the US Congress today. In both cases Zelensky reiterated the call for a no fly zone over Ukraine and the imposition of “new sanctions packages” on Moscow “until the Russian military machine stops.” He did it with his heart in his hand, with passion and determination.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has forced nearly two million people out of Ukraine, according to the UN Refugee Agency. Frightened and uncertain about their future, they cross over borders into neighbouring countries to escape the bombings and bloodshed.
Meanwhile, a different type of exodus occurs in Russia. Many companies and investors have decided to cut back, or suspend, their activities in Russia. Others have chosen to leave altogether, which could have a lasting impact on the country’s economy.
OTTAWA – Canada remains steadfast in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. “Ukrainian immigrants have helped build this country, and we stand with the courageous people of Ukraine in upholding the values that our countries share”, the government says in a news release.
TORONTO – Keep the diplomatic channel open as Russia’s aggression continues. It is now quite clear the strategy desired by Vladimir Putin in this first week of conflict in Ukraine. The priority for the Kremlin is to achieve the pre-established goals on the ground as soon as possible, not completely closing the door to negotiations with Kiev. It remains to be seen whether this double channel – the war channel and the diplomatic one – is really kept in place for the real will to reach an agreement that provides for an immediate ceasefire, or – a thesis now supported by the vast majority of analysts – that this is just a façade move, a strategic diversion without any chance of success, a simple corollary to Putin’s real goal, that is, to continue his project of invasion of Ukraine.
Despite the stakes and unity, Canada along with the USA, meaning NATO as a whole have made clear they have no plan to send troops into Ukraine to fight Russia. They have instead reinforced the military alliance’s presence in the Eastern Europe, in case the conflict expands beyond Ukraine.
