Toronto/IBNS: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska arrived in Ottawa late Thursday night.

This is Zelenski first visit to Canada since Russian President Vladimir Putin’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, following stops at the White House in Washington, D.C., and United Nations General Assembly in New York City, and is being held under tight security.

Zelenskiy, accompanied by his new defence minister, Rustem Umerov, will meet and brief federal cabinet ministers on the Ukrainian military’s progress since launching a counteroffensive in June to drive Russian forces out of the country.

There will also be a formal welcoming ceremony on Parliament Hill on Friday and Zelenskiy is expected to deliver an address to Members of Parliament and senators in the House of Commons.

Ahead of Zelenskiy’s arrival, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also arrives on Parliament Hill.

In today’s address, the Ukrainian leader would reportedly make his case directly to the Canadian public for the need for continued support in the face of Russia’s now 19-month invasion.

More than $9.8 billion in military, economic, and humanitarian aid has been provided by Canada since January 2022.

Besides, levelling multiple rounds of Russian sanctions, Canada has also deployed Canadian Armed Forces to Europe to train Ukrainian soldiers, and welcomed more than 175,000 Ukrainians to this country.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)