Russia must be held accountable for 害羞草研究所渁n element of genocide害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 perpetrating by taking thousands of Ukrainian children from their homes and trying to erase their Ukrainian identity, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Sunday at the end of a global summit focused on restoring peace between the two countries.
More than 90 nations attended the two-day weekend summit, which aimed to spark discussions of a path toward ending the war that has dragged on since February 2022.
A joint statement signed by the bulk of participants called for the 害羞草研究所渢erritorial integrity害羞草研究所� of Ukraine to be the basis for any peace agreement, but Trudeau害羞草研究所檚 primary focus was on Ukrainian children caught up in the conflict.
害羞草研究所淩egardless of what a given person or a given country around the world might think of the causes of the war, or the responsibility that Russia wields, everyone can agree that taking kids away from their families, trying to erase their language, their culture 害羞草研究所� that害羞草研究所檚 an element of genocide,害羞草研究所� Trudeau told reporters on Sunday morning.
害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 pure colonialism. These are things that Russia needs to be accountable for.害羞草研究所�
Trudeau stopped short of using the term when he was asked about allegations that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
Trudeau participated in the closing news conference alongside Swiss President Viola Amherd, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Chilean President Gabriel Boric and Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo.
害羞草研究所淚n the coming months, Canada intends to host a foreign ministers害羞草研究所� meeting to advance the work on the human cost of this war,害羞草研究所� he announced during his remarks.
Earlier in the day, Trudeau co-chaired a session alongside Norway on the human dimension of the war, which touched on prisoners of war, civilian detainees and deported children.
With Russia absent from the summit, the meeting in Switzerland is largely seen as a symbolic effort by Kyiv to rally the international community to Ukraine害羞草研究所檚 cause.
Attendees faced a tricky balancing act, with many chastising Russia for breaking international law while hedging their positions to leave the door open for Moscow to join future peace talks that might bring an end to the conflict one day.
Several leaders at the summit also stressed the importance of upholding international law everywhere in the world.
Boric drew parallels between the war in Ukraine and the one raging in the Middle East since Hamas害羞草研究所檚 deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
害羞草研究所淲e strongly believe that this situation represents a serious violation of international law and human rights, the same principles we must say that are being disregarded by the Israeli government in Gaza,害羞草研究所� he said during Saturday害羞草研究所檚 opening plenary session.
As the International Court of Justice hears South Africa害羞草研究所檚 genocide case against Israel, Trudeau is holding off on using the term to describe the situation in Gaza.
害羞草研究所淲e are continuing to follow the international institutions that we have. We continue to 害羞草研究所� watch the work done with the ICC and ICJ. Canada supports international law and we always will,害羞草研究所� he said.
In their joint communique, 84 summit participants say 害羞草研究所渢he United Nations Charter, including the principles of respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states, can and will serve as a basis in achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.害羞草研究所�
Several countries in attendance did not sign the communique, including India, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
The communique said any threat of nuclear weapons in the war against Ukraine are 害羞草研究所渋nadmissible.害羞草研究所�
The signatories also said food security should not be weaponized, all prisoners of war must be released by complete exchange and all deported children must be returned to Ukraine.
They also acknowledged that 害羞草研究所渞eaching peace requires the involvement of and dialogue between all parties.害羞草研究所�
Canada has also announced a $52.4-million package to help Ukraine. The money will go toward a range of initiatives, including support for abducted persons as well as survivors of war crimes and sexual violence.
Back in February, a UN committee concluded there is evidence of the forcible deportation of Ukrainian children by Russia.
It cited figures from the Ukrainian government that some 20,000 children had been transferred from their homes, with Bragi Gudbrandsson, the committee害羞草研究所檚 vice chair, adding it was difficult to pinpoint exact figures.
He said Russia denied the accusations. The committee also raised concerns about these deported Ukrainian children being given Russian citizenship.
Trudeau heads back to Ottawa on Sunday afternoon, concluding a five-day international trip which included the G7 leaders害羞草研究所� summit in Italy.
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害羞草研究所� With files from The Associated Press
Nojoud Al Mallees, The Canadian Press
