Canada’s Prime Minister has announced a third round of sanctions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Justin Trudeau explains the sanctions this time are on President Vladimir Putin himself, along with his Chief of Staff and Foreign Minister, and the Republic of Belarus, which Trudeau says has helped Putin with his attack. He says Putin cannot expect to overturn 75 years of peace and still expect to be able to benefit from the world’s financial systems.

Trudeau also supports the removal of Russia from the SWIFT global banking system. The system is used by around 11,000 financial institutions across the world.

He says, “President Putin has opened the darkest chapter of yet in his assault on the Ukrainian people but he has made a grave miscalculation. People around the world, including in the streets of Moscow and St. Petersburg are standing against his brutal and unnecessary war.”

As well, the federal government has announced matching any donations to the Canadian Red Cross in support of humanitarian aid in Ukraine up to $10-million. Trudeau notes this is in addition to the $50-million already announced for development aid, and $620-million in sovereign loans made available to Ukraine’s government.