Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Canada to help spearhead a long-term peace plan with Russia as the nearly 10-month war in Ukraine enters a critical phase as winter approaches.
The Ukrainian leader threw down the gauntlet in a pre-recorded video speech at the Halifax International Security Forum, where senior government and military officials from Canada and around the world are gathering this weekend.
Zelensky, whose country was invaded by Russia in February, told attendees that real and lasting peace between Kiev and Moscow would require agreement on 10 different areas.
These include the withdrawal of Russian forces, the release of prisoners, ensuring Ukraine’s nuclear, food and energy security, restoring his country’s territorial integrity, and a court to hold those responsible accountable.
The Ukrainian president went on to encourage countries to “choose which item you can help,” adding: “I believe that Canada, which strongly supports us, will also choose one of the elements of the peace formula for itself and show all the strands leadership.”
Among those at the forum was Defense Minister Anita Anand, who in her own speech told attendees that Ukraine’s military was winning the war and Russian President Vladimir Putin had simply rejoined NATO and renewed its purpose.
“The spirit and determination of the Ukrainian people and President Zelensky continue to inspire us all.  Ukraine’s armed forces are led, disciplined and better trained – and they are winning,” Anand said.
Russia is facing mounting setbacks after nearly nine months of fighting and recently withdrew troops from the key city of Kherson in southern Ukraine.  But Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s power and energy facilities have fueled fears of what winter will bring.
Ukraine’s power grid chief warned of hours-long blackouts on Friday as Russia exploited its energy infrastructure with heavy artillery and missile attacks that have cut off supplies to up to 40 percent of the country’s population.
Cold temperatures are putting additional pressure on energy networks, said grid operator Ukrenergo.
“You always have to prepare for the worst.  We understand that the enemy wants to destroy our power system in general, to cause major blackouts,” Ukrenergo CEO Volodymyr Kudrytskyi told Ukrainian state television.
“We need to prepare for possible long outages, but at the moment we are introducing timetables that are planned and we will do everything we can to ensure that the outages are not too long.”
Kyiv already faces a “huge electricity deficit,” said the city’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko.  About 1.5 to two million people – about half the city’s population – are periodically plunged into darkness as authorities switch power from one area to another.
“It’s a critical situation,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian and international investigators continued to uncover suspected war crimes committed by Russian forces during their nearly seven-month occupation of the Kharkiv region.
The National Police of Ukraine announced on Friday that its officers had opened more than 3,000 criminal proceedings against Russian troops.
Reports of torture and other atrocities committed by Russian troops also emerged from the southern Kherson region, where Ukrainian officials said they have opened more than 430 war crimes cases and are investigating four alleged torture sites.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on November 18, 2022.
– With files from the Associated Press.