Trudeau Says Ukraine Conflict Won’t End With Military Force

The PM also addressed the issue of potential China aggression against Taiwan

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes part in a question and answer session with Richard Haass, President of the Council on Foreign Relations, at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York on April 28, 2023. Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the conflict in Ukraine will not be settled using military force but rather through a political settlement.

“We know this doesn’t end militarily, this only ends with a political resolution of some sort,” he said during a discussion at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) think tank in New York City on April 28.

He said Ukraine would be the one to decide what conditions are acceptable to come to a settlement.

“They need to decide when is enough, or when the conditions to negotiate, or what they’re willing to cede, or what they’re willing to continue to fight and die to make sure that they hold.”

Trudeau added that “our job” is to be there to offer support so that Ukraine feels confident in its options, and said Canada would provide “as much as it takes, as long as it takes,” similar to the U.S. position.

It’s in relation to that position that CFR President Richard Haass asked Trudeau whether he saw a role for negotiations or if the policy was only to liberate territory by force.

Recognizing the need for an eventual political settlement has not been a core part of the Canadian government’s discourse surrounding the conflict.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said in Davos in January that one way to help the global economy was to defeat Russia in the conflict.

“One thing where we have some real practical levers is we can help Ukraine win, clearly, definitively. And if we do that, if that happens this year ... that would be a huge boost to the global economy,” Freeland said, without define what would constitute a Ukrainian victory.

In announcing further sanctions on Russia on March 10, Freeland said “Ukraine can and must win this war.”

On the same day, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly spoke of “regime change” in the context of sanctions against Russia.

“We’re able to see how much we’re isolating the Russian regime right now — because we need to do so economically, politically and diplomatically — and what are the impacts also on society and how much we’re seeing potential regime change in Russia,” she said.

Russia lodged a protest with Canada’s embassy in Moscow over the comments.

Taiwan

Following Trudeau’s comments about supporting Ukraine as long as it takes, Haass asked the prime minister about his stance towards Taiwan and potential aggression by the Chinese regime.

“What are you prepared to do to deter, or if need be, defend against Chinese action?” said Haass.

Trudeau said he would continue to have a military presence in the Pacific “demonstrating that we’re there to uphold the status quo,” while noting that Canada recognizes the “One China” policy.

The “One China” principle is held by the Chinese Communist Party to claim that Taiwan belongs to the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The “One China” policy, adopted by many countries, recognizes Beijing as the official seat of China, and does not simultaneously recognize Taipei.

Canada currently has a limited military presence in the region. Two Royal Canadian Navy ships were deployed in the Indo-Pacific region from August to December last year as part of Operation PROJECTION. The year prior a single ship was deployed during the same timeframe.

A single ship and surveillance plane have been deployed on a regular basis to East Asia for Operation NEON, which seeks to enforce UN sanctions against North Korea.

Trudeau called the PRC an “increasingly disruptive global power,” but highlighted working jointly with China on the environment by co-hosting the COP15 conference on biodiversity in Montreal in December.

“Ignoring China is not an option for anyone but being strategic, and thoughtful, and firm, and clear on how we engage with it is the path forward for all of us,” he said.

Haass asked Trudeau if that stance would make China understand that “Canada would be prepared to oppose any aggression against Taiwan.”

“We will continue to stand for the principles of the rules-based order and international law,” Trudeau answered.