Canadian ambassador and Brampton native will return to Ukraine as soon as it’s safe
Published May 4, 2022 at 12:47 pm
Canada’s ambassador to Ukraine and Brampton native Larisa Galadza will return to the country as soon as it is safe according to Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly.
Canada was among multiple nations that closed diplomatic missions in Ukraine in February in the days leading up to and after the Russian invasion.
More than two dozen countries have since returned, including France, Italy and as of last week, the United Kingdom.
The United States is starting by sending diplomats on day trips into the western part of Ukraine before restoring the embassy presence in the capital of Kyiv.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited himself last week.
Joly did not respond when asked if she or any other Canadian political representative would visit Ukraine but said as soon as security can be cleared, Galadza will return to the country.
Videos
RELATED: ‘Ukraine’s war is our war’ says Brampton native and Ukraine ambassador
Speaking to Brampton City Council last month, Galadza’s father and Roman Galadza of Brampton’s St. Elias The Prophet Ukrainian Catholic Church read a letter from the ambassador.
She thanked Bramptonians and Canadians for their support and addressed recent reports of atrocities allegedly committed by Russian forces against civilians.
“Those of us with a personal connection to Ukraine thank you immensely for the support and we hope that I can be sustained, will be sustained, until the war is ended and the troops can return to their homes within their borders,” she said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 4, 2022.
With files from Ryan Rumbolt
insauga's Editorial Standards and Policies advertising