Canada joins Europe rejecting Trump’s Ukraine plan, Foreign Affairs Minister Anand says sovereignty is key

The world’s most influential nations gathered in South Africa to work around Washington’s disruptive foreign policy Saturday, reaching consensus on issues like climate change and gender equality while pushing back on a Ukraine deal that western allies deemed insufficient.

For Canada, disruptive geopolitics led to a technology pact with India, a recent foe, along with a cut to Ottawa’s funding for global health and talks with countries grappling with American and Chinese trade coercion.

“It is a great day for multilateralism,” Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand told reporters in Johannesburg.

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The U.S. faced further pushback over the Trump administration’s proposed peace deal for Ukraine, which has been widely seen as favouring Moscow.

The plan calls for Ukraine to hand over territory, reduce the size of its army and to not join the NATO alliance, with limited security guarantees for Kyiv.

Canada joined European nations and Japan in issuing a statement, saying leaders support American efforts toward peace but feel the plan needs more work.

Anand would not specify exactly what is wrong with Trump’s plan, but says Canada’s long-standing belief is that Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty is key and it’s up to Kyiv to decide on its future.

She added that Ukraine is “top priority” in Canada’s foreign policy, for ensuring a rules-based international order.

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