Canada imposes new sanctions on 31 Russians and paramilitary groups
Photo: Canada's new sanctions will target 31 Russians and organizations (Getty Images)
Canada has imposed new sanctions against Russia. They will affect 31 individuals and Russian paramilitary groups that support aggression against Ukraine, reports Trudeau's office.
The imposition of the new sanctions against Russia resulted from Trudeau's participation in a European leaders' summit in London on Ukraine.
"During the Securing our Future Summit, the Prime Minister announced new sanctions against 10 individuals and 21 entities, including paramilitary organizations and their leaders, to help counter Russia’s reliance on third-party organizations and countries to advance its political and military objectives in Ukraine," the Prime Minister’s office said.
The statement added that the new sanctions target nine leaders of post-Wagner paramilitary organizations and one member of the associated higher Russian military leadership. The sanctions also target nine paramilitary organizations operating in Ukraine and in Russia's African network, as well as 12 related organizations.
"To date, Canada has imposed sanctions on over 3,000 individuals and entities complicit in Russia’s aggression – and we remain committed to working with our partners to increase economic pressure on Russia," the Canadian government's statement reads.
Paramilitary organization
A paramilitary organization is a group that has a military character or is closely related to it but is not formally part of the armed forces. It is an organized group of civilians, either in military uniforms or in civilian clothes, used to assist the regular military.
Canada and Ukraine
Notably, at the London summit, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that his country is considering all possible options to support peace in Ukraine, including sending Canadian troops as part of an international contingent.
According to the Prime Minister, Canada "has been one of the strongest countries in support of Ukraine from the beginning." He added that his country has already trained "up to 40,000 Ukrainian troops."
"We’re not going to get ahead of the discussions on how to keep a peace that isn’t yet in place, but Canada will be there and is open to doing what is necessary," Trudeau emphasized.
