Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke on the phone with the President of Ukraine today (Wed), to reiterate Canada’s solidarity with the Ukrainian people, and applaud the bravery and courage citizens have been showing. He told Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Canada will be sending a new shipment of highly specialized military equipment to help defend against Russia’s invasion. Trudeau also extended an invitation to the President to address the Canadian parliament in the near future, which he accepted.

The Prime Minister announced on Wednesday sending an additional $50-million in lethal and non-lethal military equipment to Ukraine. Trudeau was in Germany. He met with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and a news release from the Prime Minister’s Office says the leaders discussed and coordinated next steps to counter Russia’s ongoing and accelerating aggression against Ukraine.

President Zelenskyy posted on social media on Wednesday hat a children’s hospital and maternity facility in Mariupol has been hit by Russian air strikes. He says there are children under the wreckage and he calls the strike an atrocity. Russia has denied targeting civilians in its assault on Ukraine.

Zelenskyy also posted that he talked to his friend Justin Trudeau about defence cooperation and how to increase sanctions pressure on Russia. The President says Canada stands with Ukraine and we feel it every day.