Ukraine’s Resistance at a Critical Point

Ukraine’s Resistance at a Critical Point – December 6, 2022

On Tuesday, December 6, 2022, EngageParlDiplo hosted a panel discussion at the Rideau Club with two senior Ukrainian parliamentarians, opposition MP, former deputy prime minister and chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee of Ukraine’s Integration into the European Union, Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, and opposition MP and member of Verkhovna Rada Committee on Foreign Policy and Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation, Mariya Ionova. The event coincided with Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. The war was at a critical point and Moscow used the destruction of infrastructure, attacks on civilians and human rights abuses to attempt to break the will of Ukrainian forces and citizens.

The Parliamentary Centre’s Vice-Chair, Yaroslav Baran, delivered opening remarks. The MPs participated in an armchair discussion moderated by Heather Bakken, President of World Press Freedom Canada, and was followed by a Q & A session.

The MPs provided an update on Ukraine at a time of Russia’s escalating attacks approaching winter, including the impact of Russia’s alleged war crimes against Ukrainian women and girls. This included perspectives on:

• The way women and girls are affected by Russia’s aggression in Ukraine
• The roles and needs of women in leadership positions
• How Canadian support to Ukraine can be maintained and further adapted

Before the discussion, the MPs met with Canada’s Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security, Jacqueline O’Neill.