Gdynia, Poland - 10 June 2015
Thank you very much, Commander Murray, for that very kind introduction and congratulations during your first year commanding Fredericton, the first Halifax-class frigate to be deployed having completed the modernization and equipment life extension project.
Commanders and crew, Laureen and I thank you all for your very warm hospitality.
Minister Kenney, parliamentary colleagues, Ambassador.
Ladies and gentlemen, you are here in the Baltics to participate in Operation REASSURANCE in support of NATO.
Operation REASSURANCE is Canada’s contribution to NATO’s efforts to support eastern European allies in the face of increased Russian aggression.
But your presence here represents more.
You are continuing the rich tradition of service and sacrifice of those Canadians who served in uniform before you.
The Royal Canadian Navy’s presence here is the physical demonstration that Canada stands up for what is right and good in a troubled world.
And most importantly your service here, in concert with our allies, helps to keep Canada and Canadians safe.
We Canadians are a peaceful people.
We believe in freedom, democracy and justice.
We believe that might in and of itself does not make right.
We believe that peoples are free to determine their own destinies and we do not forget the lessons of the past, lessons learned at such terrible cost.
We know that in the post-war order, NATO was formed to protect the principles that are the cornerstone of our peace and security, the sanctity of territorial integrity and the rights of free peoples to govern themselves in the face of Soviet aggression and the occupation of Eastern Europe.
Secured in part by NATO’s commitment of collective self-defence, Canada looked to move beyond the 20th century’s conflicts to an era of peace and stability.
And for decades we did.
When the Soviet Union finally crumbled, Europe enjoyed stable borders for a generation.
And so it continued as the nations of Eastern Europe liberated from Communism took their rightful place in the free world.
But now just beyond NATO’s borders, we see new efforts to subvert free peoples and redraw boundaries by force.
The ongoing conflict in Moldova, the Russian offensive in Georgia in 2008, and now the invasion and annexation of parts of Ukraine by Mr. Putin.
Putin’s actions have cost the lives of more than 6,000 Ukrainians as well as the murder of hundreds of innocent civilians aboard a passenger plane.
Mr. Putin’s recklessness threatens global stability, regional stability, and has spread fear among our eastern allies.
That, my friends, is why you, the men and women of the Royal Canadian Navy, are here.
Inspired by the will to defend, dissuade and de-escalate the conflict.
Canada has joined our NATO allies to show our solidarity with our longstanding allies and with new democracies in Eastern Europe as they once again reject Russian imperialism.
And you are not alone.
The Royal Canadian Air Force is patrolling skies – the skies of Eastern Europe – and the Canadian Army is currently deployed in Poland, training with Polish and other NATO forces.
But we aren’t only reassuring NATO’s allies.
Canada has gone further.
We are providing direct assistance to Ukraine at this pivotal moment in that country’s difficult history.
President Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, undertaken to serve his own domestic agenda, political agenda, to divert attention from Russia’s long-term decline under his rule and to interfere with the democratic aspirations of a sovereign country, these things must not be allowed to stand.
The people of Ukraine, like all free peoples, must be able to choose their own future and that includes a Euro-Atlantic and NATO future if that is what they wish.
And so, although not bound to do so by treaty, Canada will continue to provide various forms of assistance to Ukraine.
This assistance to Ukraine includes non-lethal military equipment, military and police training, financial support, technical assistance, humanitarian aid, and of course sanctions against its Russian tormentors.
And as we are doing these things, let me assure you and all Canadians that Canada does and always will seek and support diplomatic solutions.
Canada has no quarrel with the Russian people.
On the contrary.
Canada looks forward to a time when Russia might again be welcomed into the community of peaceful nations as a responsible, contributing participant to world affairs.
We look forward someday to a Russian government focused on delivering prosperity and democracy to the Russian people, and peace and stability in this region.
And we look forward to a Russia not inclined to foreign adventures, territorial conquests, and absurd attempts to deny reality or change the outcome of the Cold War.
I regret very much that this is not and will never be Mr. Putin’s Russia.
In the meantime, dialogue, discussions and diplomacy must continue but these things mean nothing unless backed by resolve and real consequences.
Canada will continue to judge Mr. Putin not on his words, but on his actions.
And based on his actions thus far, effective sanctions against the Putin regime must remain in place.
Indeed we must be ready to toughen them if necessary.
NATO assurance measures and Operation REASSURANCE must continue.
Vital aid to Ukraine must not cease, and the attention of our allies, the attention of the world must not turn away while Russian boots and equipment remain on Ukrainian soil.
For as long as the Putin regime occupies the Crimea and sponsors the rebels in Eastern Ukraine, things will never be able to return to normal.
Yes, there are economic consequences for ourselves and certainly for our European allies in keeping these measures in place.
But we will never forget and our allies must never, ever forget the much graver consequences of turning a blind eye from pretending that business can ever be conducted as usual as freedoms are trampled and as borders are erased.
That’s why our soldiers, our air personnel and you, our sailors, must remain engaged in this critical mission.
For in safeguarding hard-won freedom here, you are also protecting the security and freedoms we Canadians enjoy at home.
All Canadians are filled with admiration and with the deepest gratitude of your services rendered here and elsewhere in the world.
And on behalf of all Canadians I’m proud to thank you for your service to our country.
Until you return home safely, we will keep you in our minds and hold you in our hearts.
May you have fair winds and following seas.
God bless all of you in your work.
God bless Canada.
