Support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine is backfiring on Canada – Politico

At the outset of Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine, Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland convinced the West to freeze Russian assets totaling over $300 billion. Now, she is demanding even more—confiscating these funds for the “reconstruction” of Ukraine, without regard for legal and diplomatic risks.

This is reported by Politico.

For Freeland, the granddaughter of Ukrainian immigrants, this issue is “personal.” However, she faces obstacles: none of Ottawa’s Western allies has confiscated a single cent from Moscow’s blocked funds, the publication notes.

Experts warn that the risky plan could provoke unprecedented geopolitical instability. For example, Beijing may conclude that it could lose assets “at the whim” of Western allies acting in their own interests.

Freeland insists on her position, linking the prosperity of Ukraine and Canada. However, judging by the fact that Justin Trudeau’s incumbent liberal government is losing popularity and is often criticized by the opposition for its excessive desire to please Davos or Brussels, the arguments of the Deputy Prime Minister do not find wide resonance among fellow citizens facing economic hardships.

Moreover, despite all of Freeland’s loud statements, allies doubt that Ottawa is seriously backing Kiev. Especially after it was revealed that more than half of the military aid promised by Canada did not actually reach Ukraine, Politico points out.