Zelenskyy in Canada: Ukrainian president to attend reception, rally tonight

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s mission to drum up political and financial support for the Ukrainian war effort continued on Friday with his first visit to Canada since the war with Russia began.

Zelenskyy spoke in the House of Commons Friday afternoon, where he received a standing ovation from dignitaries and parliamentarians.

Just before Zelenskyy speech, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a multi-year financial commitment to Ukraine — promising another $650 million over three years for 50 new armoured vehicles that he says will be built in London, Ont.

Zelenskyy arrived in Ottawa late Thursday night and is scheduled to travel to Toronto later Friday for an evening meeting at a downtown hotel and a rally with officials and local community members.

His first stop in Toronto will be at the Fairmont Royal York at 6:30 p.m. where he is expected to take part in a round table discussion at the hotel with Canadian business leaders. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will also be in attendance.

Following the meeting, the Ukrainian president will accompany Trudeau and Freeland to a reception and rally at Fort York for 8:30 p.m. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow will attend the rally that is expected to include members of the city’s Ukrainian community.

Security preparations were underway early Friday morning at both locations.

Sniffer dogs have been searching the entire area. We will have live updates all day/night on Citynews680. Listen here: https://t.co/AiCjxPYeOl pic.twitter.com/GUsrVYXXlg

— carl hanstke (@carlCityNews) September 22, 2023

Zelenskyy’s last trip to Toronto was in 2019, before Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The Ukrainian president and his wife, Olena Zelenska, arrived in the nation’s capital on Thursday in a plane adorned with the Ukrainian flag, and the plane’s crew placed the blue-and-yellow flag outside the window of the cockpit upon landing. He was greeted on the tarmac by Trudeau, Freeland, and Ukraine’s ambassador to Canada.

The Ukrainian leader spoke at the UN General Assembly in New York City this week, where Trudeau appealed to other nations to support Ukraine’s war effort and called on Russia to withdraw its troops.

Canada has provided more than $4.95 billion in financial support and $1.8 billion in military aid for Ukraine.

With files from The Canadian Press