All it took was 90 seconds for weeks of diplomacy talks to unwind in spectacular fashion in front of the eyes of the world.
Following the tension-filled and feisty meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday, support for Ukraine in Canada has surged.
In North Bay, Ont., one group that works to supply Ukrainians on the front lines with equipment says it was ‘shocked’ by the Oval Office clash.
As Lori Burns, the co-founder of The Vest Project, looks at the photos of Russia’s invasion of Mariupol, Ukraine on display at the North Bay Public Library, her heart breaks.
“It’s just absolutely heartbreaking,” she said.
“We’re still faced with this.”
When war broke out on Ukraine’s eastern front, The Vest Project formed to raise money to supply Ukrainian forces with non-lethal tactical equipment. It’s raised over $110,000 since Feb. 2022.
“It’s incredibly sad that we’re still doing this,” Burns said.
“There’s so much conflict around the world. It’s just a sad state of affairs.”
Like most people involved with other Ukrainian support groups and charitable organizations, Burns was “shocked” with how the Trump-Zelenskyy proceedings unfolded.
The meeting fell off the rails. Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Zelenskyy for being “disrespectful”. Then the signing of a minerals deal that Trump said would have moved Ukraine closer to ending its war with Russia was quickly scrapped. Trump has said previously he believed the economic deal with the U.S. would serve as a security guarantee for Ukraine against a future Russian invasion.
Since the blowup, Trump administration officials have discussed whether to pause U.S. military aid to Ukraine, according to two administration officials, though it’s unclear whether or when the president would take such a step.
Burns believes the U.S. administration has “ulterior motives”.
“Zelenskyy is a true hero. He’s galvanized everybody within his country to fight and they don’t really have a choice,” she said. “But they’re fighting for their own freedom.”
Those motives, Burns thinks, involves appeasing Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“That alliance or connection seems to be not really what we’ve seen in the past,” she said.
Since that meeting at the White House, there has been an outpouring of support for Ukraine with demonstrations and rallies around the world taking place and right here in Canada as people stand in solidarity for Ukraine’s sovereignty.
“Canada has provided lots of support,” said Ukrainian Andrii Bieliaiev.
“Canada is on the right side of history. We (Ukraine) are still with Europe, and I hope that the U.S. is still with Ukraine too. I hope that everything will be improved between the U.S and Ukraine.”
Bieliaiev and his family fled his hometown of Mariupol at the end of Aug. 2022, six months after Russia’s invasion began.
Ukrainians in Canada like Bieliaiev don’t believe Russia can be trusted to hold its word, citing Vladimir Putin’s 25 ceasefire violations that have occurred since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.
“How can you believe a guy who lies all the time?” he asked.
“It’s important not to lose faith in this situation.”
Bieliaiev doesn’t believe there can be peace between the two nations unless Russia lays down its arms and withdraws its forces from Ukraine.
