As Trump Turns On Ukraine, Trudeau Tells Zelenskyy: 'your Fight Is Our Fight'

OTTAWA — When Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy first met in 2019, they had to exchange jokes through a translator.

On Thursday afternoon, as they have done since the start of the war, they got on the phone and spoke directly — no simultaneous interpretation required.

Trudeau has been one of Zelenskyy's most vocal defenders on the world stage since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Now, the three-term prime minister is weeks away from the end of his political life. And his staunch advocacy for Ukraine on the world stage — even when it puts him at odds with U.S. President Donald Trump — will also come to an abrupt end.

Trudeau, the longest-serving leader in the G7, will leave office when his successor as Liberal leader is elected by party supporters next month, and his exit comes at a pivotal time in the war. As the Trump administration convenes peace talks with Russians, and with the president labeling Zelenskyy a "dictator," Europeans have scrambled to salvage allied support for the war effort.

The outgoing Canadian leader isn't budging on his country's full-throated support for Ukraine determining its own fate.

“It’s a fundamental principle for Canada and for the vast majority of our allies: nothing about Ukraine, without Ukraine,” Trudeau told reporters on Wednesday, following Trump’s false claim that Ukraine started the war.

Trudeau joined European leaders in carving out a new diplomatic framework to deal with the White House’s apparent alignment with Moscow on the conflict.

“Canada will always stand up for Ukraine,” Trudeau said on X after the meeting, distinguishing himself from Trump, who has taken repeated shots at Canada’s sovereignty. Last month the president said he would use “economic force” to absorb Canada as the 51st state — comments the White House has said should be taken seriously.

“Traditionally, Canada has been ‘follow-the-leader’ when it comes to the U.S.,” said Paul Grod, president of the Ukrainian World Congress. “This is really the opportunity for Canada to step outside of the U.S. shadow when it comes to supporting Ukraine.”

The future of that relationship once Trudeau has left the political scene is less clear. Canadian Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who is favored to become the next prime minister following an election expected this year, has expressed similar steadfast support for Ukraine. But he has kept relatively quiet as the Trump administration turns on Zelenskyy.

Chrystia Freeland, who championed the West’s sanctions on Russia and is in the race to replace Trudeau as Liberal leader, has come out swinging. “Volodymyr Zelenskyy is no dictator — but Putin certainly is,” she said on X. But her chances of sitting in the Prime Minister’s Office are slim, polls suggest.

Whoever replaces Trudeau would have a long way to go to establish the kind of friendship he has with Ukraine’s leader. He and Zelenskyy forged a bond in 2019 during the Ukrainian president’s first official visit to Canada. Even then, Trudeau promised “to stand with Ukraine against Russian interference and aggression.”

At a gala dinner, Trudeau joked about the things he had in common with Zelenskyy.

“You played a history teacher who goes into politics, before being elected yourself. And I’m a teacher too, although I taught math and French,” Trudeau said. “I think we can both say the classroom brought us here today.”

Earlier in the day, Zelenskyy had shared a photo of the two grinning at each other. The Ukrainian president credited even his Canadian counterpart's influence on his career path.

“@JustinTrudeau was one of those leaders who inspired me to join politics,” he said on X.

These days, Zelenskky and Trudeau speak every few weeks. They refer to each other on a first-name basis during press conferences and on social media, sometimes as a “dear friend.” They’ve delivered speeches at each other’s parliaments, and last year Zelenskyy awarded Trudeau the Order of Freedom, which the PM accepted on behalf of Canadians.

“It’s a great honor for me,” Zelenskyy said when presenting the award to Trudeau at the UN General Assembly. “You’re a great friend to us.”

Trudeau has met with Zelenskyy at various international events and summits, typically reaffirming Canada's support and expressing personal admiration for the president's leadership. In meetings with world leaders, Trudeau advocates for Ukraine.

The friendship is rooted in the shared history of Canada and Ukraine. Under former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Canada was the first Western country to recognize Ukraine's independence in 1991. Canada boasts one of the largest Ukrainian diaspora communities in the world.

But the leaders' bond has appeared to strengthen thanks to shared personal values.

“Volodymyr, in the years I have known you, I have always thought of you as a champion for democracy. Now democracies around the world are lucky to have you as our champion,” Trudeau said in 2022 introducing Zelenskyy’s virtual address to Parliament.

Grod said Europeans have taken note of Trudeau’s full-throated support for Ukraine, a relationship Zelenskky appears to appreciate deeply.

“We will never forget what the people of Canada have done for Ukraine and our shared future,” Zelenskyy said on X, following his Thursday call with Trudeau.

“We greatly value Canada’s G7 presidency this year and count on its leadership.”

On Monday, world leaders will rally around Zelenskyy on the third anniversary of Russia's invasion.

“Your fight is our fight,” Trudeau told the Ukrainian president again this week.

During Thursday’s call between the leaders, Trudeau and Zelenskyy agreed on one more thing — that they will remain in close and regular contact.

Michael Blanchfield contributed to this report.