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Russia decries Trudeau’s ‘confrontational’ call for Putin to play more positive role in the world

WATCH ABOVE: Justin Trudeau said Russian President Vladimir Putin needs to start showing that he wants to play a positive role in the international community and says Canada's democratic institutions are strong – Mar 21, 2018

A call by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for Russian President Vladimir Putin to play a more positive role in the world and back out of its occupation of Ukraine is being attacked by the Russian embassy in Ottawa as “confrontational.”

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Speaking with reporters Wednesday from Toronto, Trudeau had been asked about the re-election of Putin to yet another six-year term in an election dogged with accusations of ballot box stuffing, voter duplication and general corruption.

In particular, reporters asked Trudeau what the prospect of a Putin-led Russia could mean for the upcoming Canadian federal election in 2019, given the part Russia has played in a campaign to influence the outcome of the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

READ MORE: Justin Trudeau: foreign election interference a reality after Vladimir Putin re-election

“President Putin needs to start showing by his actions that he wants to play a positive role in the international community,” Trudeau said.

“Whether it’s pulling back of his engagement in the Donbass [region of Ukraine] or leaving Crimea, whether it’s taking responsibility for the questions – the important questions that the U.K. has asked after the terrible poisoning incident a few weeks ago in Salisbury, whether it’s questions around NATO, questions around Syria, questions around the Arctic.”
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READ MORE: Photos appear to show Russians casting multiple votes

In a tweet Thursday, the Russian embassy in Ottawa said Canada was following the lead of the U.K. in making “slanderous” and “confrontational” comments.

Earlier this week, the House of Commons adopted a unanimous motion blaming Russia for the nerve agent attack against a former Russian spy in Britain two weeks ago.

READ MORE: Putin claims Russian presidency, again — here’s what that means for the rest of the world

Russia has repeatedly denied involvement in the attack, which left former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in critical condition in hospital after the U.K. says they were doused with a Soviet military-grade nerve agent.

WATCH BELOW: Paul Ryan takes stance on Putin election win, says he ‘would have no kind words’

However, Russia has put forth conspiracy theories accusing the U.K. of being behind the attack, which also sent roughly 30 other bystanders to hospital with minor injuries.

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Russia has yet to explain how a nerve agent manufactured by the Soviets came to be used in the attack.

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