After US First Lady Jill Biden, Canada’s Justin Trudeau makes surprise visit to Ukraine

War-torn Ukraine on Sunday witnessed high-profile visits. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Sunday made a surprise visit to Irpin outside Kyiv, its mayor said. 

“I’ve just had an honor to meet with the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, who came to Irpin to see with his own eyes all the horror which Russian occupiers have caused to our town,” Oleksandr Markushyn said on his Telegram channel.

Meanwhile, Trudeau’s office said in a statement: ‘The prime minister is in Ukraine to meet with President Zelensky and reaffirm Canada’s unwavering support for the Ukrainian people.”

Like other NATO allies, Canada has shown its support for Ukraine by sending billions in aid and weapons. Trudeau is slated to meet Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. 

Earlier in the day, first lady of US, Jill Biden, also made a visit to the war-torn nation and met her counterpart Olena Zelenska. This was Olena’s first public apperance since Russia invaed Ukraine in February. The visit was not announced due to security reasons. The first lady traveled by vehicle to the town of Uzhhorod, about a 10-minute drive from a Slovakian village that borders war-torn Ukraine. She spent about two hours in Ukraine.

Also Read: US first lady Jill Biden visits Ukraine, meets Volodymyr Zelensky’s wife Olena

Her visit is the most high-profile one. Till before her visit, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US  Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s visit had been the most high-profile members of the administration  to visit the Ukraine. Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other members of Congress also have visted and met with President Zelensky in Kyiv. 

Meanwhile, the US imposed a new round of sanctions   on Russia, targeting services, Russia’s propaganda machine and its defence industry on the eve of Vladimir Putin’s planned Victory Day parade.