“Slava Ukraini”: London, Ontario. Mayor supports Ukrainian community amid Russian invasion – London

London, Ontario Mayor Ed Holder on Thursday expressed his solidarity with the people of Ukraine and with members of the Ukrainian community in London, calling on locals to show support “in the face of Vladimir Putin’s violent aggression and unprovoked wars.” .

Holder’s message came hours after Russia launched a wide-ranging attack and invasion of Ukraine, hitting towns and bases with airstrikes or shelling as civilians crowded onto trains and cars to flee.

Ukraine’s government said Russian tanks and troops had rolled across the border in an “all-out” attack that could rewrite the geopolitical order and whose aftermath was reverberating around the world.

“London’s Ukrainian community has always provided immense support and comfort to us at times of great sorrow and need. Now it’s our turn to do the same for them,” Holder said in a tweet Thursday afternoon.

“We pray for peace and we pray for the people of Ukraine. Slava Ukraine. Honor of Ukraine.”

London City Hall will be bathed in blue and yellow lights, the colors of the Ukrainian flag, from Thursday through the weekend. The Ukrainian flag was also raised outside of City Hall.

“Our city has a long history and proud tradition of providing assistance and shelter to people fleeing war and other crises,” Deputy Mayor Josh Morgan said during Thursday’s scheduled COVID-19 media briefing.

“While immigration and refugee status are the responsibility of the federal government, London stands ready to play a leading role in supporting our Ukrainian friends and neighbors if and when it is needed. In the meantime, we pray for peace and the people of Ukraine.”

Earlier in the day, Ontario Premier Doug Ford described Russia’s actions as a “violent assault on a sovereign nation by a despot, a thug.”

The province says it will provide $300,000 in humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

“We have seen Vladimir Putin’s war of aggression in Ukraine begin,” Ford told the Ontario legislature, highlighting the contributions Ukrainians have made to Canadian society.

“Canada will never falter in standing up to tyranny. Canada will never waver in our support of Ukraine.”

Andrea Horwath and Steven Del Duca, leaders of the Ontario NDP and Ontario Liberals, respectively, echoed Ford’s views.

“I join global leaders and peace-loving people around the world in condemning this unprovoked attack by the Russian Federation and the violent invasion that Putin is using to draw people into the horrors of war,” Horwarth said.

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Russia-Ukraine conflict: Canada imposes new tough sanctions on Russia

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The invasion has been followed by a steady Russian buildup of military forces on its borders with Ukraine and in neighboring Belarus over the past two months, sparking numerous diplomatic rounds between the Kremlin and the West.

Russian President Vladimir Putin justified his actions in a late-night televised address, claiming the attack was necessary to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine – a claim the US had predicted he would use as a pretext for an invasion.

Putin accused the US and its allies of ignoring Russia’s demands for Ukraine to join NATO and for security guarantees.

In a tweet late Thursday morning, Mariam Hamou, councilor of London Ward 6, urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to open Canada’s borders to refugees from Ukraine.

“The humanitarian crisis will be a struggle,” she tweeted, “Ukrainians have nowhere to go in Ukraine – they need to step up.”

During a press conference later in the day, Trudeau announced tougher sanctions would be imposed on Russia and that Ottawa would give priority to immigration applications from Ukrainians wanting to come to Canada.

In addition, Canada arranged for the safe transit of all Canadian citizens, permanent residents and their families still in Ukraine across the land borders with Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

The new sanctions target 58 individuals and entities with ties to Russia, including members of that country’s elite and their families, the paramilitary organization known as the Wagner Group, and major Russian banks.

Canada is also canceling existing export licenses for Russia and is not issuing any new ones. And according to Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, there will be further sanctions.

“President Putin has launched a horrific, unprovoked attack on your country, a sovereign nation, including rocket attacks on your capital, Kiev,” Trudeau told reporters.

“It unnecessarily risked the lives of innocent people, violated Russia’s international treaties and created the greatest threat to European stability since World War II.”

– with files from Ryan Rocca, Associated Press and The Canadian Press