By Canadian Press

U.S. envoy Cohen discusses co-operation on Ukraine, convoy protest aftermath

Feb 22, 2022 | 2:43 PM

OTTAWA — The American envoy in Ottawa says Canada and the United States are fully aligned on a set of sanctions that will inflict pain on high-level Russians if the country further invades Ukraine.

U.S. Ambassador David Cohen was speaking in an interview in Ottawa hours before President Joe Biden’s announcement that the U.S. had ordered heavy sanctions against Russian banks and business leaders, some of the so-called oligarchs close to President Vladimir Putin.

Cohen says the evolving Russia-Ukraine crisis and the aftermath of the antigovernment protests that paralyzed Ottawa and key border crossings also share a common trait.

Cohen says a lesson from the so-called trucker blockade is how Canada and the U.S. can oppose the rising forces of authoritarianism that exist in countries such as Russia.

Cohen was speaking today from the U.S. embassy less than a city block from where empty Ottawa streets remained barricaded under police guard after being cleared in a major law-enforcement sweep over the weekend.

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat and area: Dec. 13-15

2h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Mustard Seed adding new shelter spaces at Alberta government's request

Dec 12, 2024

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner, applications due Friday

Dec 12, 2024

With Russian troops now in rebel held eastern Ukraine, Biden says “the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine” is underway.  

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 22, 2022.

The Canadian Press