OTTAWA – Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird says Canada will contribute $220 million to an international effort to stabilize the finances of the government of Ukraine.
He says Canada is prepared to work with the European Union, the United States and the International Monetary Fund to help Ukraine.
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The minister says Ukraine seems to have enough money to keep afloat for a few months, giving the international community time to work out some solutions.
Baird says it’s crucial to give economic support to Ukraine during its current tensions with Russia, but Canada won’t be writing blank cheques.
He says IMF advisers on the ground in Ukraine will make recommendations on what level of support the country needs.
Baird also says Canada won’t recognize the Russian-backed referendum this weekend in Crimea, calling it an illegitimate stunt.
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