Canada's support for Ukraine questioned amid escalating violence
Fighting in eastern Ukraine has intensified since Donald Trump took office. Dozens of soldiers and civilians have been killed in the past few weeks, although it's unclear whether the Ukrainian military or Russian-backed separatists are responsible.
Some observers say Russia now sees an opportunity to advance its efforts as political changes distract the United States and Europe. Ukraine supporters are calling on Canada to maintain its mission in the country.
Canadian troops are helping train forces in Ukraine, but the mission is set to expire in March. The Liberal government has not announced if it will extend the assignment.
The Russian-Ukrainian conflict has stretched on for nearly three years.
Donald Bowser says the increased fighting may actually signal that a military, or even political, resolution is close at hand. He is an anti-corruption advisor with the United Nations Development Program who works in eastern Ukraine.
"What we've seen is there have been a lot of announcements about resolving the conflict on both sides," Bowser tells The Current's host Anna Maria Tremonti. "You have to prepare the population to accept peace."
Putin may finally be ready for a peace deal because of the drain supporting separatist forces has put on the Russian economy.
But Bowser added there are a number of players on both sides trying to upset any peace negotiations.
James Bezan, the Conservative Party's defence critic, says Ukrainian-Canadians expect Ottawa to help Ukraine stand up to Russian aggression. He blames Russian-backed separatists for the latest uptick in violence, believing Putin is testing the waters of the Trump White House to see what he can get away with.
Bezan is calling on the Liberal government to not only continue its mission in Ukraine, but expand it. He would like to see Ottawa provide lethal defensive weapons to the Ukrainian military, just as it is providing them to the Kurdish Peshmerga fighting ISIS in Iraq.
"It is time to look at providing them with more equipment as the rebel forces have been getting from Russia," Bezan tells Tremonti.
He's hopeful that Canada's new Foreign Minister, Chrystia Freeland, who has Ukrainian heritage, will be more proactive than her predecessor.
Aurel Braun, who teaches international relations and political science at the University of Toronto, feels Putin may be looking for a permanent conflict in Ukraine to prevent the country from joining NATO or the European Union.
Because Russia continues to act aggressively in the conflict, he says Canada needs to play a larger role.
"I think Canada needs to move beyond symbolism," says Braun.
Listen to the full conversation at the top of this web post.
This segment was produced by The Current's Sam Colbert and Lara O'Brien.