Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to visit Canada and address the Ottawa Parliament on Friday as he continues with his efforts to gather support from Western allies for the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.Zelensky was scheduled to arrive in Ottawa Thursday night and has an array of events planned for Friday, including a parliamentary address.Zelenskyy to address Canadian Parliament on Friday as he seeks to shore up Western support for Ukraines war with Russia, reports AP— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 22, 2023Zelensky in CanadaThe Ukrainian Presidents visit to Canada will be the leaders first visit to the country since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. He previously addressed the Canadian Parliament virtually in Match 2022, after the war started.Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has planned to greet Zelensky and also to speak in Parliament in Ottawa on Friday. “The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, will visit Canada, from September 21 to 22, 2023,” Trudeaus office said.Canadas U.N. ambassador, Bob Rae, said it is important for Zelenskyy to see the extent to which Canada supports Ukraine in the war.“We have done a lot to help him and we need to do more,” Rae said. “Were going to continue to do everything we can to support the Ukrainian people.”Ukrainians in CanadaThe two leaders are also set to visit Toronto later to meet with the local Ukrainian community. Canada is home to about 1.4 million people of Ukrainian descent, close to 4% of the population.Since the beginning of the war more than 175,000 Ukrainians have come to Canada and an additional 700,000 have received approval to come as part of an initiative that supports temporary relocation of those fleeing the war, reports suggest.According to media reports, the Canadian government has provided more than $8.9 billion Canadian (US$6.6 billion) in support to Ukraine. the highest per-capita direct financial support to Ukraine in the Group of 7 industrial nations, says Canada.The Ukrainian president is making the trip after stops at the United Nations and the White House. He was in Washington on Thursday where he met U.S. lawmakers and President Joe Biden.
