Trudeau: Russia ‘failing and flailing’ in Ukraine war
United Nations (AP) – Part of Russia’s military mobilization Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday accused it of showing it was “failed and struggling” to invade Ukraine, condemning what he called an escalation of the war.
Trudeau says activation of some reservists, and hidden nuclear threat from President Vladimir Putin Plans for a referendum in occupied Ukraine show the desperation of Russian leaders.
“Putin fundamentally miscalculated in a whole bunch of different ways,” the prime minister told reporters gathered at the United Nations headquarters, where the assembly was meeting. “Putin was wrong, his reaction to this situation now is to fail and waver.”
In calling for mobilization, Putin cited the length of the front and said Russia was effectively countering the combined military forces of the West.
Trudeau vowed that Canada would continue to tighten sanctions on Russia and provide military aid to Ukraine, but gave no details. He said Putin was getting closer to “admitting what he didn’t want to admit” that his country was effectively at war.
The Canadian leader accused Putin of “war crimes” and said Russia was a founding member of the United Nations in violation of the body’s fundamental principles.
“We will continue to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to ensure that Putin and his cronies are held accountable,” Trudeau said.
Pressed by reporters to dabble in American politics, Trudeau ducked one point and plunged headlong into another. Asked if President Joe Biden was wrong in declaring the COVID-19 pandemic over, Trudeau pointed to people struggling in hospitals, saying “we all want this pandemic to end as soon as possible.”
However, with regard to overturning Roe v. Wade, he was enthusiastic that Canada would fight for reproductive rights around the world.
“We will help America if we need it,” he said.
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Associated Press National Writer Matt Sedensky can be reached at msedensky@ap.org and https://twitter.com/sedensky. For more AP coverage of the UN General Assembly, visit https://apnews.com/hub/united-nations-general-assembly
