Trudeau to attend the G20 Summit in New Delhi this week

Ukrainians in Canada and abroad are watching Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week as he heads to Asia and the G20 Summit of the world’s major economies.

They’re hoping the world leaders can use their economic power to squeeze Russia and help put an end to the war in Ukraine.

“This might be an economic forum but when global trade is affected negatively because of the war and because of the circumstances going on in Ukraine I think it should be a topic of the highest agenda,” said Konstantyn Sheweli with the Ukrainian National Federation.

Prime Minister Trudeau is heading to Asia for the week, stopping in Indonesia and Singapore before the summit in New Delhi.

High on Trudeau’s agenda is reported to be expanding trade with southeast Asia’s growing economy and opening opportunities for Canadian green economy expertise.

But as Ukrainian soldiers attack the Russian lines, Trudeau has promised to promote Ukraine’s interest at the G20, telling Ukraine last month, “We will be speaking up strongly for you, and we will continue to make sure that the world is standing with Ukraine.”

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Sheweli says Trudeau should press the world leaders to use their economic power against Russia’s war.

“Currently Russia is still generating income from the sale of its oil, which accounts for billions of dollars. Billions of dollars that are funding a war effort by Russia to kill innocent people, to cause a lot of this strife. we need to put a stranglehold on this economy,” said Sheweli.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is not going to attend the summit, facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

And before the talks get serious at the G20, officials in New Delhi are hoping to head off any monkey business.

They’ve posted cutouts of large, ferocious monkeys in the streets to scare away smaller monkeys that can be a nuisance.