Written by Katherine Ludwig

As of late last night, and early this morning, Russia released airstrikes and shelled Ukraine. Now they’ve completely invaded and are attacking while Ukrainian residents are trying to flee the country.  

G-7 members, including Canada, met early this morning to discuss and decide what they would all collectively do to impose more sanctions on Russia.  

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed Canadians on Thursday to announce what sanctions the Canadian government will be implementing on Russia.  

“These sanctions will target 58 individuals and entities, including members of the Russian elite and their family members as well as the Wagner group and major Russian banks among others. We will also sanction members of the Russian security council including the defense minister, the finance minister, and the justice minister. In addition, effective immediately, we are ceasing all export permits for Russia and cancelling existing permits,” says Trudeau.  

Melanie Joly, the Foreign Affairs Minister, said in the announcement that these sanctions will cut off $700 million from Russia.  

Trudeau also said in his announcement that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s disregard for international law, democracy, and human life is a worldwide threat, which is why G-7 members are choosing to act collectively as a whole.  

These new and more severe sanctions are added on top of the sanctions Canada did by sending tactical and lethal military gear, stationing over 10,000 Canadian troops in Ukraine, and loaning Ukraine $620 million dollars for economic purposes.  

United States President Joe Biden spoke directly after Trudeau. The United States government will also be freezing all assets with associated Russian banks and Russian Elite members and their families. According to Biden, these sanctions from the U.S. will withhold $250 billion from Russia.