Steel nerves and quiet words marked Monday’s diplomacy, as the lines between principle and pragmatism blurred in the shadow of Ukraine’s war. The cost of compromise, some argue, is measured in lives and lines on a map.
Mark Carney, Canada’s prime minister, took to the phones this week, reaching out to both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. With peace negotiations between the United States and Russia looming, Carney’s message was sharp: Canada’s support for Ukraine remains unyielding, and decisions about its future should not be carved out behind closed doors.
The timing was no accident. New overtures by U.S. President Donald Trump signaled a willingness to broker a deal—one that, by his own account, may demand Kyiv and Moscow both surrender ground. Trump called for a “feel-out meeting” with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, hinting that territorial swaps might be the bitter price of peace. For Ukraine and its allies, that prospect lands like a punch to the gut.
A readout from Carney’s office hammered the point: only Ukrainians can determine the fate of their country, and international borders drawn by violence set a dangerous precedent. Billions in Canadian military aid and economic sanctions, including tighter oil price caps, underscore Ottawa’s commitment. Yet, when it comes to the upcoming talks, Zelenskyy still waits for an invitation—a silence that speaks volumes about who holds the cards and who is left on the sidelines.
Across Europe, anxiety grows. European Union policymakers and British officials echo Carney’s stance, warning that peace built without Ukraine risks undermining its sovereignty and emboldening aggression elsewhere. Putin, for his part, appears unmoved, fixated on holding occupied ground and tightening Moscow’s grip.
Zelenskyy, rejecting any notion of conceding territory, reminds the world that Ukraine’s borders are not for negotiation. Each concession, he cautions, rewards violence rather than ending it. As talks gather momentum, Canada’s challenge is clear: ensure that the price of peace is not paid with Ukrainian sovereignty, and that the voices of those most affected remain central to any deal.
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Carney backs Ukraine role in peace talks in calls with Zelenskyy, Starmer
