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  • Olha Stefanishyna discusses with Canadian delegation the country’s G7 presidency: sanctions policy and frozen assets
    Service of the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, posted 15 January 2025 07:12

    On 14 January, Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and Minister of Justice of Ukraine, met with a delegation from Global Affairs Canada to discuss the priorities of Canada’s presidency of the Group of Seven, which began on 1 January.

    The meeting was attended by David Angell, Political Director, International Security and Political Affairs, Global Affairs Canada, Anne Mattson Gauss, Director, G7 Political Affairs, Global Affairs Canada, Jocelyn Kinnear, Executive Director, Ukraine Bureau, Global Affairs Canada, and Natalka Cmoc, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to Ukraine.

    The Deputy Prime Minister thanked Canada for its consistent support to Ukraine since the beginning of the russian aggression.

    David Angell noted that he had decided to make his first visit to Ukraine since his appointment as a sign of solidarity and the high priority given to supporting Ukraine.

    The participants of the meeting discussed coordination of efforts of the Group of Seven member states to use the frozen russian assets for the benefit of Ukraine, as well as strengthening sanctions pressure on russia and preventing opportunities for circumventing sanctions.

    “As head of the Ministry of Justice, I would like to discuss the use of frozen russian assets. The situation today is that the European Union, the United States and other G7 partners are effectively paying for the consequences of russian aggression out of their own pockets. This must change. At the G7 level, it is important to work on developing solutions for the use of frozen assets of both the russian state and sanctioned individuals,” Olha Stefanishyna stressed.

    According to her, russia, which launches large-scale attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, must pay for the destruction it causes.

    She suggested working together with the Canadian side to make the appropriate political decision.

    “Another initiative that could serve as a deterrent is not only to expand the range of sanctioned persons, but also to increase the scope of existing sanctions. Strengthening the existing sanctions and mechanisms to combat the circumvention of these sanctions may be the next step, which will provide us with an additional tool for pressure,” Olha Stefanishyna said.

    During the meeting, the parties also discussed Ukraine’s implementation of the steps set out in its cooperation with the International Monetary Fund, as well as progress in reforms within the EU accession negotiations.

    The parties agreed to maintain a regular dialogue in order to support Ukraine and achieve a just peace.