Goodbye truckers, hello Europe | War in Ukraine

The invocation of the law encouraged some people to leave [les lieux] and allowed the forces of order to put an end to these occupationsthen explained the Prime Minister.

Five hours later, another occupation began, this one much bloodier: Vladimir Putin launched his troops to attack Ukraine. War was back in Europe.

Behind the scenes, several Liberals believe that the Russian invasion and, above all, the Canadian response coordinated with that of the allies allowed Justin Trudeau to regain his stature as a statesman.

The challenge for truckers, it’s completely disappeared from radar screenssays a liberal source, who believes that for many peoplethe war in Ukraine has put things into perspectiveamong others on what it meant, to defend freedom.

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A poll conducted by the firm Research Co. at the end of February shows that 52% of Canadians polled approve of the Prime Minister’s response to the Ukraine file.

Even those generally critical of Justin Trudeau’s foreign policy acknowledge that his government has done the right thing so far.

I think the Canadian government has lived up to what was asked by the allies, launches Jocelyn Coulon, on the phone. The former adviser to ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs Stéphane Dion had published in 2018 A selfie with Justin Trudeaua work in which he reproached the Prime Minister for his lack of ambition on the diplomatic front.

Mr. Coulon also compliments the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, who had the your just in the last few weeks: We can see that she has gained confidence in matters of foreign policy.

The work of the Deputy Prime Minister was also noticed. A government source also confirms that Chrystia Freeland played a key role in the discussions with Western allies, which led to the imposition of sanctions against the Russian Central Bank.

Talk to opponents

However, if Canada has committed a without fail so far, his answer is not sufficient, believes Jocelyn Coulon. As he already did in his book, the former adviser criticizes the Trudeau government for not having entered into a direct dialogue with Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin remains uncompromising in his desire to continue the war in Ukraine.

Photo : Getty Images / MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV

For example, there has been no bilateral meeting between Vladimir Putin and Justin Trudeau since the latter’s election in 2015. However, in recent years, all the other G7 leaders have met with the President. Russians, often repeatedly, despite their disapproval of the 2014 invasion of Crimea.

We must always talk not only to our friends, but also to our adversaries, adds Jocelyn Coulon. This is where diplomacy comes into its own.

Professor Justin Massie, international security expert at the University of Quebec in Montreal, agrees: It’s important to dialogue even with your enemies, even when you’re in conflict. He cites as an example the approach of France in the last days, which distinguished herself by her diplomacy to try to organize a humanitarian corridor to get people out of Kyiv.

Of course, Mr. Massie acknowledges, diplomacy has its limits. Vladimir Putin, despite all pressure from the allies, has shown no sign of backing down and is shamelessly continuing his bombardment of Ukrainian cities. However, according to the political scientist, it is necessary to keep the dialogue open, if only to try to alleviate the situation for the civilian population.

French President Emmanuel Macron has had several talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Photo : Getty Images / MICHEL EULER

However, in Canada, he adds, we don’t like to seem like we’re talking to [nos] rivals because we are accused of complacency by our political opponents, who use foreign policy for partisan purposes. And that’s unfortunate.

Justin Massie laments, among other things, the fact that the Conservatives have called for the expulsion of the Russian ambassador in Ottawa – a very bad idea, he said: Even the United States has direct and privileged relations with Russia to avoid interpretations or miscalculations that could, perhaps, lead to a military escalation.

The presence of a large Ukrainian community in Canada – the third in the world – and what Jocelyn Coulon calls the very significant influence of the Ukrainian lobby within the Trudeau government also contributed, according to the former adviser, to a lack of communication with the Russian giant.

Control over the Arctic is an issue on which Russia and Canada, which control approximately 75% of the territory, will inevitably have to dialogue in the years to come. However, Jocelyn Coulon believes that by “having a very bad relationship with the Russians”, Canada “is badly positioned to defend its interests in the Arctic”.

Photo : East2West

Little success in foreign affairs

Although Justin Trudeau will only meet with allies during this trip to Europe, Justin Massie recognizes that the federal government has well managed so far the Ukrainian file, especially in comparison with some misfires engaged in foreign policy.

The political scientist cites the trip to India as an example, but also the 200 blue helmets that Canada never deployed as planned, the withdrawal of its troops from Mali before the date requested by theUnited NationsHIM-HER-ITor the Liberal government’s failure to secure a seat on the United Nations Security Council.

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The expectations in this conflict were therefore quite low according to the international security expert, even more so after the trucking crisis that paralyzed downtown Ottawa, where we saw a Prime Minister rather absent in the first weeks of the conflict.

There, he concludes, we feel that Justin Trudeau is no longer present and that his government increase the announcements. The image of inaction that sometimes sticks to the Prime Minister’s skin therefore seems more difficult, until now, to affix to his response to the Ukrainian conflict.