[ad_1]
OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau introduced Monday a ban on Russian oil imports, saying oil revenues have helped to prop up President Vladimir Putin and Russian oligarchs and wage warfare in opposition to Ukraine.
He stated Ottawa would even be supplying Ukraine with anti-tank weapons and ammunition, along with three earlier arms shipments.
“As we speak, we’re asserting a ban on all imports of crude oil from Russia, an trade that has benefited President Putin and his oligarchs significantly,” Trudeau informed a information convention.
“And whereas Canada has imported little or no quantities in recent times, this measure sends a robust message,” he added.
Canada, with the fourth largest reserve on the planet, is a internet oil exporter, however nonetheless imports important quantities from international locations together with america and Saudi Arabia, and till not too long ago Russia too, for home consumption.
In line with authorities and trade information, Canadian oil imports from Russia fell from greater than 17,000 barrels in 2019 to almost zero the next 12 months.
Trudeau famous that the Russian oil gross sales account for about one-third of Moscow’s authorities revenues.
“Our message is evident,” Trudeau stated. “This pointless warfare should cease now. The prices will solely develop steeper. And people accountable will probably be held accountable.”
“We’ve seen over the previous couple of days that Putin made a grave miscalculation. He thought it could be straightforward to overcome Ukraine… He thought the West can be divided and unsure in its response,” he stated. “He was terribly incorrect on each counts.”
Protection Minister Anita Anand stated 100 shoulder-mounted Carl Gustaf anti-tank weapons and a couple of,000 rockets can be delivered to Ukraine “as rapidly as doable within the coming days.”
Putin laid down his situations on Monday for stopping the invasion of Ukraine, as sanctions proceed to rain down on Russia and Westerners warned that extra might nonetheless be imposed.
© Agence France-Presse
[ad_2]
Source link