Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is billed to address the Canadian Parliament on Friday as part of efforts to gather support from Western allies towards war against the Russian invasion.
ABC News reported that Zelenskyy arrived at Ottawa’s airport late Thursday after meeting with United States President Joe Biden and lawmakers in Washington.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greeted Zelenskyy at his arrival said the latter would be speaking in Parliament in Ottawa on Friday.
Since 2019, it is Zelenskyy’s first visit to Canada since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, although, he previously addressed the Canadian Parliament virtually after the war started.
Zelenskyy and Trudeau are scheduled to go from Ottawa to Toronto to meet with the local Ukrainian community.
The Ukrainian president is making the trip after stops at the United Nations and the White House.
Canada’s United Nations Ambassador, Bob Rae, said it is important for Zelenskyy to see the extent to which Canada supports Ukraine in the war.
He said, “We have done a lot to help him and we need to do more.
“We’re going to continue to do everything we can to support the Ukrainian people.”
Zelenskyy is facing questions in Washington about the flow of American dollars that for 19 months has helped keep his troops in the fight against Russian forces.
Ukrainian troops are struggling to take back territory that Russia gained over the past year. Their progress in the next month or so before the rains come and the ground turns to mud could be critical in rousing additional global support over the winter.
