Ukraine, Zelensky surprise visit to Canada. Trudeau promises 'unconditional support'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continued his trip to North America for the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly with a surprise visit to Canada, which is home to a significant Ukrainian diaspora and has supported Kiev since beginning of the Russian invasion. Zelensky landed last night in Ottawa from the United States, and was welcomed by Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, who reiterated Canada's "unconditional support" for Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president, accompanied by the Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov, has scheduled a meeting with Canada's governor general, Mary Simon, and a speech to the Canadian Parliament today. In the afternoon Zelensky will fly to Toronto, where he and Trudeau will meet with business leaders and members of the Ukrainian community in Canada.

The country is home to the second largest Ukrainian diaspora in the world after Russia, with approximately 1,4 million people of Ukrainian origin on its territory. What began yesterday is the first official visit of the Ukrainian president to Canadian soil since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022. In March Zelensky addressed Canadian parliamentarians via video conference.