Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Roman Mashovets met with Assistant Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Sandra McCardell and discussed the security situation in the east and near the borders of our country, as well as forecasts for its development.
Roman Mashovets informed his interlocutor about the aggravation of the situation in Donbas and the concentration by the Russian Federation of an armed group along the Ukrainian border ready to be used against our state. He focused on a series of exercises conducted by Russia this year that were potentially directed against Ukraine, the asymmetry of Russia's actions and its use of Belarusian territory to possibly expand aggression.
The Deputy Head of the President's Office cited examples of Russia's active use of information, energy and other non-military resources as weapons. In particular, this concerns the disinformation campaigns of the Russian Federation and the first consequences of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, when in September-October this year Europe faced an energy crisis caused by the Russian side.
For her part, Sandra McCardell noted that Canada is closely monitoring the security situation around Ukraine's borders, working on international platforms to stabilize it and facilitating consolidation of NATO positions to ensure security on the European continent.
She assured of continued support for Ukraine and readiness to continue deepening bilateral cooperation of a strategic nature.
The parties agreed to continue an active dialogue on security issues in Donbas and near Ukraine's eastern borders.