President Petro Poroshenko is in Canada at the invitation of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the kickoff of the Invictus Games, an international sporting event for wounded, injured and sick military servicemen and women
TORONTO, Sep 22, 2017 (UBO) – Hot on the heels of an intensive New York visit to address the UN General Assembly and meetings with President Donald Trump, Secretary-General António Guterres and a host of other political and business top brass, President Petro Poroshenko accepted the invitation of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for a two day working visit to Canada, Sep 22-23.
Rather than the usual Ottawa venues, Poroshenko and Trudeau will be meeting on the margins of an unusual sporting competition. The Invictus Games is the only international sporting event for wounded, injured and sick military servicemen and women, created by Britain's Prince Harry, in which former armed services personnel and their associated veterans take part in sports including wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, and indoor rowing.
On the first night of the Poroshenko visit, the president and the prime minister took part in a gala reception to raise money to help support the costs of Ukraine’s team participation.
The tournament will unite more than 550 wounded fighters from 17 countries who will compete in 12 adaptive sports disciplines. A team of 15 ATO veterans, who have undergone all the stages of national selection and special training, will represent Ukraine at the Invictus Games this year for the first time.
The Poroshenko visit seen as indicative of close Canada-Ukraine relations
During their formal meetings, Trudeau and Poroshenko will discuss how to strengthen the already robust security and people-to-people connections between Canada and Ukraine. Trudeau’s office said he will also reiterate Canada’s ongoing support for the people of Ukraine, its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and its reform efforts.
In making the invitation for the Poroshenko visit, Trudeau said: “Canada and Ukraine enjoy a historic friendship forged through generations of shared values and strong relations. Canada will continue to work closely with Ukraine to bring greater security, prosperity, and economic independence to the Ukrainian people.”
When announcing the Poroshenko visit, Trudeau’s official news release added a listing of facts considered important in relations between the two countries:
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The article above includes text and photos provided by the Ukraine Presidential Press Office, the office of the Prime Minister of Canada, and the Invictus Games.