Ukrainian president says Trudeau is expected to visit Ukraine on Monday

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to visit his country on Monday, as Canada prepares to participate in a virtual G7 meeting where Russia's war in Ukraine is expected to be discussed.

Zelenskyy told reporters at a Sunday evening news conference that Trudeau will be one of 13 foreign leaders attending a summit on peace and security for Ukraine. He also said he wants an update from Trudeau about Canada's current relationship with the United States.

Trudeau will also chair a virtual G7 meeting on Monday. Canada took over as G7 president earlier this year.

The prime minister and the Ukrainian president's expected meeting comes as the U.S. sends increasingly mixed signals on its support for Ukraine and has been meeting with Russia in an attempt to broker a peace deal.

Russian and U.S. officials met in Saudi Arabia this week, without Kyiv's participation, and agreed to work toward a resolution to the war.

Earlier this week, Trudeau told reporters that Ukraine must have a seat at the table in any talks on ending hostilities ignited by Russia's full-scale invasion, which marks its third anniversary on Monday.

WATCH | Trump calls Zelenskyy a 'dictator' who took U.S. money to wage war on Russia:

Trump calls Zelenskyy a ‘dictator’ who took U.S. money to wage war on Russia

4 days ago

Duration 3:00

U.S. allies are expressing alarm after President Donald Trump lashed out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calling him a ‘dictator with no elections,’ and accusing him of taking U.S. money to wage war on Russia.

On Saturday, the Prime Minister's Office said Trudeau spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump about the war in Ukraine.

A senior Canadian government source told CBC News the call was positive and that because Canada is chair of the G7, Trudeau wanted to connect with Trump before the virtual meeting on Monday.

A statement from Trump's office following the call said both leaders hoped to see an end to Russia's invasion into Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24, 2022.

The statement noted the war "should never have started and would not have had [Trump] been president at the time."

WATCH | Former Ukrainian PM shares his thoughts on Trump's comments and the ongoing war:

U.S.-Russia talks a ‘watershed moment’ for Ukraine: former PM

15 hours ago

Duration 18:38

Chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton speaks with Arseniy Yatsenyuk, a former Ukrainian prime minister, about Donald Trump’s comments on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Plus, the Sunday Scrum discusses what tension between the United States and Ukraine means for Canada.

In an interview on Rosemary Barton Live, former Ukrainian prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said his country is "well aware" of the Trump administration and recognized that Ukraine will need to work with Trump's team.

"Either we want Putin to win or we want Trump to win," Yatsenyuk said. "Let's give him what he wants in order to take what we want."

He also suggested that as G7 chair, Canada could endorse a joint resolution with the U.S. where both parties agree to increase military spending and support Ukraine.

"Once again, we have to be on the forefront," Yatsenyuk said.