Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
The Canada and Australia flags at the building that contains their embassies in Kyiv, Ukraine - Canadian diplomats families have been ordered to leave Ukriane, on Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that the American proposal to defuse tensions with Ukraine contained rational elements, even though some key points were ignored. Photographer: Christopher Occhicone/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Canada is temporarily withdrawing non-essential employees from its embassy in Ukraine.
A statement released by Global Affairs Canada says the move is being made for the “safety and security of Canadians.”
Canada is temporarily withdrawing non-essential employees from our Embassy in Ukraine #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/Z062vQlTog
— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) January 30, 2022
As announced earlier this week, Canada will be reinforcing the team at the Canadian Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, with officials with expertise in areas such as security sector reform, conflict management, democratic reform, consular services and diplomacy,” read the statement. “Together, they will increase our diplomatic capacity and allow us to continue to assess and respond to the evolving situation in support of Ukraine.”
Global Affairs Canada says the embassy remains open.
Last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a $340-million commitment to extend the training mission, known as Operation Unifier, for three years. But Canada has, so far, stopped short of arming them with lethal weapons as Ukraine has requested.
Trudeau has also committed $50 million in development and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, on top of a $120-million loan offered to help stabilize Ukraine’s economy.
Russia has positioned about 100,000 troops along the border, raising fears across Europe and the NATO military alliance of an invasion, something Russia has denied.
