Alberta students get face time with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with post-secondary students across Canada through a virtual video call Wednesday morning as Russia's invasion of the eastern European country neared its fourth month.
The event was organized by the Ukrainian embassy in Canada and the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy.
Students at 10 universities across the country, including the University of Calgary and University of Alberta in Edmonton, gathered to hear a speech from the Ukrainian president, who then answered questions.
In his opening remarks, Zelenskyy compared Ukraine’s fight to that of the underdog Toronto Raptors basketball team who won the NBA Championship in 2019.
"We are prepared to surprise the world," he told the students. "This is when you win when no one is expecting you to win, by bringing together and uniting you do things that seem to be impossible."
Illia Yankovy was amongst the University of Calgary students attending Wednesday morning’s livestream event. He’s been in Calgary for a couple of years, but worries about the safety of his father fighting for the Ukrainian army back home.
"It’s so hard, but we are keeping our morale high, just hoping we will solve this problem, that we will end this war. We’re just trying to find some money to support our fighters and our families," Yonkovy said.
"I really liked when my president compared himself in his speech today to ordinary Ukrainian people because so many Ukrainians are making really brave courageous actions and we’ve been able to see that in the media for months."
Other students like Faith Moghaddami, who studies nursing at the University of Calgary, were lucky enough to be able to ask Zelenskyy a question during the livestream.
She asked the Ukrainian president how social media has changed the world’s perception of the war.
"He (Zelenskyy) shared that social media is a really powerful tool and he highlighted a lot of the dangers of misinformation," said Moghaddami.
"I think when you’re younger, you tend to think that you don’t tend to have a lot of power and you have to wait until you’re an adult to create change, but I think students were just empowered by having this conversation today and there will be a lot of really positive activity that comes from this."
Zelenskyy went on to discuss how Canadian university students can support his war-torn country in its fight for survival against Russian forces. He noted that his country needs weapons, financial and humanitarian support as well as increased sanction pressures.
"Everyone needs to becomes wary of war, so your actions on social media, in communication with friends, or in rallies are important in supporting Ukraine," said Zelenskyy.
"Please do not allow anyone somewhere on the hierarchy of bureaucracy to forget about what's going on in Ukraine or to forget about war, please don't become tired because of the war and with the Ukrainian war. This is something that we need from you."
The majority of the fighting in Ukraine is now to the south in the Donbas region, which is seeing some of the most intense ground fighting in Europe since the Second World War.
Since Russia launched its invasion in late February, thousands of Ukrainian civilians have been killed.
The virtual discussion ran from 7:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. MDT and was live-streamed on the Munk School's YouTube channel.
With files from ReutersThe virtual discussion runs from 7:15 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. MDT. It will be streamed live on the Munk School's YouTube channel.
- With files from Reuters
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.