Halifax International Security Forum: Former president of Ukraine says only victory will bring peace to his country
A former president of Ukraine delivered an uncompromising message on Sunday about the prospects for a negotiated peace with Russia during a security conference in Halifax.
Petro Poroshenko warned the Halifax International Security Forum that Russian President Vladimir Putin can't be trusted to negotiate a deal.
Poroshenko, who was president from 2014-2019, said Russia had reneged on security guarantees given in deals signed between the two countries in 1994, 1997 and 2015.
He said the agreements ultimately didn't save Ukraine from Russia's armed invasion of his country on Feb. 24.
"What is the conclusion? Don't trust Putin," said Poroshenko. "Putin understands only one thing: strength and our (Ukraine's) unity."
The ex-president noted that there has been talk in some Western countries lately of the need for negotiations, but he had a facetious answer for his audience of political and military experts.
"It (negotiation) is already going on and we have a very well prepared and very professional negotiator which is supported by you and the whole world," Poroshenko said. "Do you know the name of this negotiator? Armed Forces of Ukraine."
He said Ukraine would continue to need financial help from countries such as the United States to win the war, otherwise he said the costs would be much higher in battling the global instability that would follow a potential defeat.
Poroshenko also assured the forum that political leaders in Ukraine are united.
"Before the 24th of February I was the leader of the opposition, now we are united in our opposition (to Russia) until our victory," he said.
Poroshenko spoke as the war took another ominous turn, with reports of renewed shelling near Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant - the largest such facility in Europe.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said there were reports of more than a dozen blasts within a short period of time on Sunday morning.
Russia has also been targeting Ukraine's power grid and other key infrastructure in missile attacks over the last week, causing widespread blackouts for millions as frigid winter weather sets in around Kyiv and other cities.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 20, 2022.
With files from the Associated Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump escalates attacks on Harris' mental fitness and suggests she should be prosecuted
Republicans on Sunday sought to distance themselves from Donald Trump's latest insults of Democratic nominee Kamala Harris during a rambling weekend rally in Wisconsin in which he called her 'mentally disabled.'
After losing her first love to suicide, this Windsor woman wants people to know there is life after death
Two and a half years after losing her best friend and first love to suicide, Brooke Ford shared her story of grief and resilience at the CMHA Windsor-Essex Suicide Awareness Walk.
John Ashton, 'Beverly Hills Cop' actor, dies at 76
John Ashton, the veteran character actor who memorably played the gruff but lovable police detective John Taggart in the 'Beverly Hills Cop' films, has died. He was 76.
A fire at a Georgia chemical plant is forcing evacuations and road closures
A fire at a Georgia chemical plant apparently caused by a sprinkler head malfunction Sunday morning is forcing evacuations and road closures in the area, according to Rockdale County officials.
‘It's very unfair’: International students face uncertain future in Canada after rule change
Migrant groups are pushing the federal government to reverse its cap on international study permits and tightening post-graduate work permit qualifications, claiming it will leave many students 'in limbo.'
opinion How to make the most out of your TFSA
The Tax-Free Savings Account can be a powerful savings tool and investment vehicle. Financial contributor Christopher Liew explains how they work and how to take full advantage of them so you can reach your financial goals faster.
Ottawa driver stopped after clocking 154 km/h on Highway 417
An Ottawa driver has been charged with stunt driving after being caught going 154 km/h on Highway 417, according to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
What is open and closed this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
This Monday, Sept. 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR), a federal statutory holiday and day of remembrance for the Indigenous children who never came home from Canadian residential schools, as well as those who survived them.
Sima Sistani, who embraced Ozempic, is out as CEO of WeightWatchers
WeightWatchers CEO Sima Sistani, who pushed the company into embracing weight-loss drugs, is leaving the position after a two-and-a-half year stint.