Ukrainian Canadians Hopeful as Trump Meets Putin Amid War Concerns

U.S. President Donald Trump convened with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, a summit that has sparked cautious optimism among Ukrainian Canadians regarding the potential for a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Many members of the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada, which is the second-largest in the world, are closely following the meeting, eager to see if their country’s interests will be prioritized in discussions aimed at ending the war.

The Ukrainian Canadian community has grown significantly in recent years, particularly as Canada opened its borders to Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s full-scale invasion that began in February 2022. Although there are deep-seated doubts about Putin’s willingness to negotiate, community leaders express gratitude for Canada’s commitment to ensuring Ukraine’s voice is heard on the international stage.

“We’re watching this with curiosity,” said Ihor Michalchyshyn, CEO of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. “I think we’re going to find out, is President Trump there to be an ally of Russia or an ally of Ukraine, or some third option?”

In the days leading up to the summit, Trump tempered expectations, stating he aims to “set the table” for future discussions involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This statement aligns with a recent meeting in which European leaders and Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized that decisions concerning Ukraine’s future must be made by Ukrainians themselves.

During a call on Wednesday, Trump briefed Zelenskyy, Carney, and European leaders about the forthcoming summit with Putin. He has pledged to provide further updates post-meeting. “We feel that with Europe, with Canada, with Ukraine speaking with one voice to the American president, he is listening,” Michalchyshyn noted. “We hope that this will be what he takes into the meeting with the Russians, but you never know what Putin will do in a room with Trump.”

Canada’s support for Ukraine has been steadfast since the onset of conflict in 2014, particularly after Russia annexed Crimea. This support has continued under Prime Minister Carney, who hosted Zelenskyy at the recent G7 summit in Alberta. There, Carney unveiled a military aid package exceeding $2 billion—funding taken from previously announced resources—and announced the initial allocation of money sourced from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction.

Throughout the week, Carney reaffirmed Canada’s support for Trump’s leadership in seeking an end to the conflict, while stressing that Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must remain intact. Support has also poured in from Canadian citizens, with the Canada-Ukraine Foundation reporting over $95 million in humanitarian aid sent to Ukraine since 2022.

Valeriy Kostyuk, the foundation’s executive director, identified a surge in donations this year, particularly following Trump’s controversial meeting with Zelenskyy in February. He noted that discussions surrounding Canada’s potential status as the 51st U.S. state resonate within the Ukrainian community.

“It’s a parallel,” he explained, drawing connections to the issues Ukraine has faced since 2014. “I think that experience allowed Canadians to relate a little bit more to the issues that started in 2014.” The foundation, alongside other Canadian charities, has stepped up to fill funding gaps left by the recent downsizing of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Kostyuk emphasized the foundation’s current focus on reuniting Ukrainian children who have been forcibly displaced by Russian forces, as the Canadian government co-leads international efforts to address this humanitarian crisis. Over 19,000 Ukrainian children have reportedly been relocated to Russia, with many adopted by Russian families or placed in camps, raising concerns about the erasure of their Ukrainian identity.

Critics, including former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have condemned Russia’s actions as genocidal. Kostyuk underscored the importance of maintaining a strong stance in negotiations with Putin. Russia currently occupies approximately one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory, and there are fears that a deal negotiated by Trump and Putin could solidify these territorial gains.

Trump has acknowledged the potential for “land-swapping” in a future agreement but has also promised to work towards returning some territory to Ukraine. Michalchyshyn expressed that the primary goal for the Ukrainian community is to ensure that discussions do not lead to territorial concessions.

“It’s essential that Ukraine’s territorial integrity and decision-making processes remain its own and are not negotiated away,” he stated. “We’re seeing that the role of European and Canadian leadership is crucial at this point.”

Zelenskyy has vocally opposed any discussions regarding territorial concessions, noting that changes to Ukraine’s borders would require a national referendum, a point Trump has expressed discomfort with.

Kostyuk drew historical parallels to the current geopolitical climate, likening Trump’s approach to that of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain during the lead-up to World War II. “The sentiment from the Ukrainian Canadian community has been clear: appeasement of the aggressor at the cost of the victim, which is Ukraine, will not yield a sustainable and just peace,” he asserted.

The stakes are high as the world watches the outcome of the Trump-Putin summit, with many hopeful that Ukraine’s rights and interests will be upheld amidst complex international negotiations.