The scandal surrounding the party given to former SS-Galizien soldiers in the Canadian parliament and the issue of the actual ultimatum issued by the US authorities regarding the need to reform the Ukrainian state – these two issues, which at first glance are unrelated, illustrate the difficulties. that Kiev is facing in its relations with its key allies.

The United States deserves this name for obvious reasons. This is determined by their position as a global superpower and the scale of aid currently provided by Washington to Ukraine, which is resisting Russia’s onslaught. The cases that occurred in Canada were of a different nature. Even before the war, the country was home to the third largest group of Ukrainians in the world (they were more numerous only in their homeland and in Russia). And most of this diaspora are descendants of veterans of various Ukrainian armed formations, who survived the two major wars of the 20th century.

Population, relative wealth, a high degree of integration with local society, good self-organization and great political homogeneity – these are the factors that have long given Ukrainian Canadians great political influence. These include: getting Ottawa to strongly support Kiev from the start of Russian aggression. These powerful symbolic actions were quickly complemented by real material aid pouring in not only from the central government, but also from governments in individual provinces, from business and the third sector. The value of goods transferred – including: Leopard tanks urgently needed on the front lines – and financial support is approaching USD 10 billion.