Viktor Yanukovych and Foreign Minister John Baird

Foreign Minister John Baird: Though his hosts are beleaguered, bruised, tired, sad, angry, exasperated and more, the Prime Minister will be warmly welcomed, his gesture of solidarity and support much appreciated. With the overthrow of Viktor Yanukovych, our bilateral relations with Ukraine were transformed. The last time the Prime Minister visited, we were vocal critics of the Kiev administration. Foreign Minister John Baird later joined the protests in person. But now, our partners are in power. With them, with western Ukrainians and on the Maidan, we have significant credibility. The Prime Minister will want to use it, according to Globe and Mail. Ukrainians need all the help they can get. To put the size of their urgent needs in context, consider that our initial $220-million contribution amounts to a scarcely transformative $5 per capita. Without Crimea, there are still some 44 million Ukrainians and When Prime Minister Stephen Harper visits Kiev on Saturday, he will bear and voice the hopes and the deep fears of Canadians, millions of whom have taken the crisis in Ukraine to heart. Our partners face a perfect storm of problems. Though they may be denying the fact, Crimea with four per cent of their population has been painfully, humiliatingly amputated. Russia, the great power next door, is contesting the new governments legitimacy. Their nation is deeply, angrily divided, with the risk of violence widespread. Their economy is in serious financial and structural distress. Corruption has been systemic. Wealth and power are in an unholy wedlock. Ukrainian institutions are not trusted by the foreign donors upon whose largesse Kiev now depends for relief and support. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.