Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday that he spoke with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and says Canada is imposing more severe sanctions on Russia.

The sanctions will target 58 people and entities connected to Russia, including members of that country's elite and their families, the paramilitary organization known as the Wagner Group and major Russian banks.

The measures, announced Thursday after Trudeau attended a virtual G7 meeting, will also affect members of the Russian Security Council, including key cabinet ministers.

Canada is also cancelling existing export permits for Russia and will not issue new ones.

Trudeau also says the federal government will be prioritizing immigration applications for Ukrainians who want to come to Canada and is launching a dedicated telephone line for anyone who has any urgent questions about immigrating from Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin defied international pressure and launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine Thursday, telling the West not to intervene in what appeared to be the beginning of a new conflict in Europe.

Putin said in an early morning televised speech the “special military operation,” which he said would occur in eastern Ukraine, was in response to Ukrainian threats while insisting Russia doesn’t have a goal to occupy the country.

For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca/news/8641948/ukraine-russia-putin-war/

Subscribe to Global News Channel HERE: http://bit.ly/20fcXDc
Like Global News on Facebook HERE: http://bit.ly/255GMJQ
Follow Global News on Twitter HERE: http://bit.ly/1Toz8mt
Follow Global News on Instagram HERE: https://bit.ly/2QZaZIB
#RussiaUkraineConflict #RussiaUkraineWar #Russia #Ukraine #GlobalNews