Canada will deploy up to 460 more Canadian Armed Forces members to Europe in response to Russia’s movement of troops into Ukraine.
The deployment also includes a frigate and surveillance aircraft.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also announced economic sanctions against Russian parliamentarians, business leaders and companies, including banks.
Trudeau says the moves are necessary.
“If Putin thinks it is in his interest to invade another sovereign country, we have to demonstrate to him that it is not in his interest, that he will not come through this better or stronger,” stated Trudeau during a late afternoon news conference on Tuesday.
“Canada and our allies will defend democracy. We are taking these actions today to stand against authoritarianism,” added Trudeau. “The people of Ukraine, like all people, must be free to determine their own future.”
On Monday, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognizing the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independents before Russian troops moved in the regions.
Canada’s Minister of National Defence, Anita Anand, gave more detail of the deployment saying that the Canadian frigate HMCS Halifax will sail under a NATO flag when it’s deployed to bolster international forces in Europe.
“During my time in Europe, I heard over and over again that our allies want more of what Canada has to offer and that is exactly what we are providing,” stated Anand.
“This includes a significant bolstering of Canada’s presence in Latvia where we lead NATO’s enhanced forward presence battle group with 540 personnel at the current time.”
