Support For Ukraine: Canada Wil Provide Anti-Tank Weapons, Bans Russian Oil Imports

Canada PM Justin Trudeau with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. (Wikimedia Commons/President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - Canada will supply Ukraine with anti-tank weapons and upgraded ammunition to support its fight against the Russian invasion, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, and will ban imports of Russian crude oil.

"Canada will continue to provide support for Ukraine's heroic defense of the Russian military," Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa.

"We announced our intention to ban all imports of crude oil from Russia, an industry that has greatly benefited President Putin and his oligarchs."

Canada has sent non-lethal weapons and support to Ukraine, and has backed a number of sanctions, including supporting Russia's removal from the Swift system for international bank payments.

"We are providing more lethal assistance to Ukraine, and we will deliver 100 Carl Gustaf anti-tank weapons systems and 2,000 rockets, which will work as quickly as possible," Defense Minister Anita Anita said.

Separately, Canada imports Russian energy products for C$289 million, or about US$228 million, according to Statistics Canada.

Canada is the world's fourth-largest oil producer, but most of it comes from Alberta, Canada's far east from refineries owned by Irving Oil, Suncor Energy, Valero Energy Corp and Cresta Fund Management.

Eastern refiners import oil on the spot market when needed, as well as fuel to meet demand during maintenance shutdowns, said David Schick, a vice president with the Canadian Fuels Association.

Russia's oil ban only applies to crude at the moment, but the government is looking at further oil derivative products, government sources said.

In 2021, deliveries will include Naphtha and Diesel to Valero's Quebec Refinery and deliveries of diesel and gasoline to a refinery at Newfoundland & Labrador, now owned by Cresta Fund Management, said Jim Mitchell, chief American oil analyst at Refinitiv.

Irving does not import Russian oil, a spokesman said. A SUNCOR spokesman said the company does not process Russian crude at any of the refineries. Valero and Cresta did not immediately respond.

In addition, Canada also played a role in restricting Russia's central bank from being able to access its foreign reserves.

PM Trudeau said his government had asked independent radio, television and telecommunications to take down Russian state broadcaster, RT, saying, "It is important that Canadians and people around the world are faced with accurate information." Canadian cable operators said on Sunday they would voluntarily drop RT.