Canada’s Trudeau wants Russia axed from Interpol for military operations in Ukraine

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Canada (AA) - Canada called for Russia to be suspended Thursday from the international police organization, Interpol, one of several sanctions announced to punish Moscow for military operations in Ukraine.

“Today, Canada and other close partners are calling to suspend Russia from INTERPOL (International Criminal Police Organization),” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at a news conference. “We’re supporting this because we believe that international law enforcement cooperation depends on a collective commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and mutual respect between INTERPOL members.”

Moscow showed no respect, only disdain by launching operations in Ukraine, according to Trudeau and other leaders.

Canada also eased immigration requirements for Ukrainians, hit Russia and its ally, Belarus, with a 35% tariff on goods and will send more lethal aid to the beleaguered country.

According to the United Nations, about 1 million Ukrainians have fled their war-torn homeland as Russian President Vladimir Putin continues his widely-condemned operations, destruction and killing.

“Canada is ready to welcome Ukrainians fleeing Vladimir Putin’s war, and there is no limit to the number of applications that we are going to be willing to accept,” Canada's Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Sean Fraser said at a news conference in Ottawa.

On the trade front, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said the Canadian government is revoking the most-favored-nation trade status of Russia and Belarus, and the two countries will now have a 35% tariff slapped on goods entering Canada.

“Simply put, this means that Russia and Belarus will no longer receive the benefits, particularly low tariffs that Canada offers to other countries that are fellow members of the WTO (World Trade Organization)," said Freeland. “We are working closely with our partners and allies to encourage them to take the same step."

Canada is also sending lethal aid to Ukraine, including 4,500 M72 rocket launchers, 7,500 hand grenades, and CAN$1 million ($800,000) to help purchase high-resolution satellite imagery.

The announcement follows the late Wednesday announcement that Canada placed restrictions on 10 individuals in senior positions with Russia's two large energy companies, Rosneft and Gazprom. It is expected that Canada will soon ban imports of Russian oil and Canadian waters will be off-limits to Russian ships. Russian flights have been banned from Canadian airspace.

In a statement obtained by Anadolu Agency, Canada said member countries that share the Arctic territory under the Arctic Council, which Russia chairs, will temporarily refuse to meet with Moscow.

This comes as Russia and Ukraine are in a second round of peace talks as Russian invasion military operations continue unabated.

The city of Kherson is now under Russian control and other cities, including the capital of Kyiv, continue to be besieged by Russian shelling.