OTTAWA –
Ottawa will create a special team to counter Russian disinformation and propaganda, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Tuesday.
Canada is also expanding its sanctions list to include 62 more people as well as Russian drone maker Concern Avtomatika in retaliation for Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
The prime minister announced the new measures during a special meeting attended by leaders of dozens of countries that support Ukraine.
Thematically intended to discuss Russia’s illegal annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in 2014, the meeting came on the eve of the six-month anniversary of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of its western neighbor.
Trudeau appeared via video link from Toronto, where he is hosting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who also pledged more aid to Ukraine.
Trudeau and Scholz also rejected Russian claims that Western sanctions are responsible for rising food prices around the world, which the Canadian leader said was one of the reasons the team was being established disinformation special.
“When the Russian regime blames sanctions for the food crisis around the world, they are engaging in disinformation,” Trudeau said.
“We must continue to fight Russian disinformation. That’s why Canada will create a dedicated team to help increase our ability to monitor and detect Russian and other sponsored state disinformation.”
The prime minister also announced that Canada will spend nearly $4 million on two projects to strengthen Ukraine’s military and police services, including mental health programs.
Some additional details of what the Prime Minister promised for Ukraine:
– Among those sanctioned are senior government and defense officials of Russia -$ for Cda-Ukraine Police Development Project and Min of Defense – Disinfo Team to help understand, monitor and detect sponsored disinformation by the state
— Rachel Aiello (@rachaiello) August 23, 2022
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on August 23, 2022.