Trudeau confirms attendance at G20, disappointment over no invitation to Ukraine

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has confirmed his participation at the upcoming G20 summit in India, doing so with direct expressions of disappointment towards Ukraine’s exclusion from the same.

In a recent telephonic conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trudeau pledged to ensure Kyiv’s concerns are given due attention and the world stands with Ukraine, despite its absence from the critical global economic forum.

“I will be at the G20 in a week and I’m disappointed that you won’t be included. But as you know, we will be speaking up strongly for you. And we will continue to make sure that the world is standing with Ukraine even as Canada.”

“I look forward to speaking with you again soon,” Prime Minister Trudeau told President Zelenskyy on Thursday.

The Canadian PM’s comments came in response to the revelation by India’s Foreign Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, that Ukraine would not be invited to the meet as an observer nation, despite nine other observer countries receiving invitations.

Trudeau’s commitment to Zelenskyy arrives amidst building international urgencies around the status of Ukraine, which was welcomed to the G7 summit in Japan earlier this year, garnering consistent economic and military support. Despite not being extended an invitation to the G20, Zelenskyy has received the continued support of several leaders in the international circuit.

India’s External Affairs Minister Jaishankar has defended Ukraine’s exclusion, stating that the G20 is primarily an economic forum and not a platform for conflict resolution.

Amitabh Kant, India’s G20 Sherpa, further reinforced India’s focus on prioritising economic and developmental subjects at the summit over the war in Ukraine.

Despite these setbacks, assurances from leaders such as Trudeau offer hope to Kyiv.

Trudeau’s move of showing solidarity with Ukraine on its independence day reflects Canada’s deep commitment to supporting Ukraine, while also acting as a timely nod to Canada’s newly appointed ambassador to Kyiv.