Vaughan raises Ukrainian flag, illuminates city hall with yellow, blue to show solidarity

'Today Russia attacked the entire territory of our state,' says president Zelenskyy

Yorkregion.com
Feb. 28, 2022
Dina Al-Shibeeb

Vaughan raised the Ukrainian flag and illuminated its city hall with that nation’s colours Thursday, the same day President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his eastern European country has been “left alone” to defend against the Russian invasion that began less than 24 hours earlier.

In a Facebook post, the City of Vaughan, said raising the Ukrainian flag was at the request of Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua.

“Today Russia attacked the entire territory of our state,” Zelenskyy said during his Thursday speech. “And today our defenders have done a lot.”

In response, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada’s second tranche of sanctions against Russia. It also includes financial penalties against 58 individuals and entities.

“We condemn unequivocally this attack on Ukraine, this invasion of Ukraine, but also the violation of the UN Charter, the principles, the rule of law internationally, and we will respond forcefully to make sure that Russia fails,” Trudeau said.

Canada will also no longer issue new export permits for Russia and Ottawa will axe existing permits.