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By Abby Zieverink
Ukraine

Warkentin says NATO allies must demonstrate force to push Putin back

Feb 25, 2022 | 3:25 PM

The MP for Grande Prairie-Mackenzie says Canada and the rest of the NATO allies must step up and help the Ukrainian government push back against Russia’s military strikes on the country.

Chris Warkentin says he was and still is “horrified by the unprovoked, unexpected and direct attack on the independent country of Ukraine,” however, he believes there needs to be a response from Canada and the NATO allies immediately.

“The Ukrainian people are fighting back and taking on heroic efforts to push back, but I do believe it is important the NATO allies step up and work with the Ukrainian government to push back and end this conflict,” he told EverythingGP.

Warkentin believes Russian President Vladimir Putin will continue to advance his incursion until the NATO allies use force to push Putin back and end the conflict.

“I don’t believe that Putin would have ever done this if he believed there had been some willingness and some resolve on behalf of NATO partners to stand with Ukraine against the Russian forces,” he expressed.

“Putin is a bully and bullies only advance when they believe that they can win and that there is no chance they will lose. I believe that we now need to demonstrate a show of force, a show of support and make sure Putin recognizes he is in a losing battle, and he needs to pull back now.”

On February 24, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada imposed more severe sanctions on Russia in response to its military strike against Ukraine, which includes new sanctions that will target 58 people and entities connected to Russia.

However, Warkentin feels these sanctions imposed by the federal government are not enough, and that Canada has not done enough in response to Russia’s attacks on Ukraine.

“I believe Canada was sticking its head in the sand for the last number of months believing that words alone would effectively change a thing.”

He suggests the Government of Canada should now take a leadership role.

“Canada should take a leadership role in terms of committing resources and providing everything that needs to be provided to the Ukraine government to ensure that there can be an effective pushback,” he stated.

“But, really it rests on the NATO allies to demonstrate force and to push Putin back.”

Back in 2014 during the Ukrainian presidential election, Warkentin was in Ukraine as an election monitor when Petro Poroshenko was elected.

Warkentin says it was an interesting time as it followed shortly after the takeover of Crimea, which caused significant tensions in Ukraine.

“I went into some of the areas of Ukraine that were closer to the Russian border and at that point in time, that was several years ago, the tensions were very high,” he explained. “For me personally, it hits close to home because I was in some of these regions that are now facing complete conflict and have fallen into, effectively, war.”

“We saw it even then that the Russian forces were going to continue to mass their presence with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people were already feeling an incredible sense of urgency to push back and be protected and ensure they had everything that needed to be in place to protect their interests and obviously their worst fears have been recognized with the latest development over the last week,” added Warkentin.

In response to his thoughts on the likelihood of Canada and the NATO allies going to war, Warkentin says it will be dependent on the resolve of NATO allies in terms of what they are willing to do.

“I do believe that if we do not demonstrate solidarity right now if we don’t demonstrate that when one of the NATO allies is attacked, that is the commitment that NATO partners have made to one another,” he said.

“If we don’t fulfill those commitments now then I fear what that means for the future for the alliance, I do fear for the possibility that if it was Canada facing this type of action, would we be able to depend on our NATO allies and if Ukrainian people cant depend on the NATO allies, I fear what that means for the alliance going forward.”

The federal government is going to match donations Canadians make to the Canadian Red Cross to bring humanitarian relief to Ukraine from now through March 18.

Warkentin adds the government is committing to every Canadian donation, dollar for dollar, up to $10,000.

“If Canadians are looking for ways they can help out monetarily in a way that demonstrates their own support, I would encourage people to contact the Red Cross or other not-for-profit organizations that will be working in the relief efforts in Ukraine.”

by Abby Zieverink