Stephen Harper to make historic stop in Ukraine on European trip

Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Saturday will be the first G7 leader to visit Ukraine since Russian President Vladimir Putin moved to make Crimea a part of Russia.

The prime minister's plane arrived in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, late Friday for a trip that will include talks early next week on nuclear safety. He will make a quick trip to Kyiv Saturday.

Canada has joined other G7 leaders in their condemnation of Russia's military action against Ukraine and last Sunday's referendum results, which have been denounced as a violation of international law.

Harper's visit toKyiv where he will meet with Ukraine's Interim Prime MinisterArseniyYatsenyukwill be further "expression of Canada's principled stand on Ukraine," said the prime minister's director of communications, Jason MacDonald in an interview with CBC News on Thursday.

Harper will use Saturday's photo op withYatsenyukas an opportunity to show that Canada condemns "Russia'sillegal occupationof Crimea" and continues to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine as they move to build a democratic country withpresidential elections set for May 25.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird,who was in Kyiv'sIndependence Square amid protests last month, will be accompanying Harper on his visit to Ukraine.

The opposition New Democrats and Liberals both told CBC News on Thursday they were not invited to take part in the prime minister's visit to Ukraine.

Canada welcomes latest U.S. sanctions

While Ukraine's interim prime minister has left his country to solicit the support of other world leaders during the crisis in his country, no G7 leader has setfoot in Ukraine amid the political unrest.

The significance of Harper's visit did not escapeUkraine's Ambassador to Canada Vadym Prystaiko.

"This visit is a very particular one and the significance of this visit is that Canada has taken the leadership on assistance to Ukraine,"Prystaiko said Thursday during an interview with CBC News.

Canada's aid to Ukraine as well as the sanctions it has imposed onRussia have been in lockstep with similar announcements made by the international community.

U.S. President BarackObama announced further sanctions against Russia on Thursday, which prompted Putin to retaliate by barring a number ofU.S. government officials from travelling to Russia, includingHouse Speaker JohnBoehnerand Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Obama announced economic sanctions targeting members of Putin's inner circle as well as a Russian bank that provides them support.

"Canada welcomes the sanctions announced by the U.S administration," MacDonald told CBC News on Thursday.

Canada has announced $220 million in financial assistance to Ukraine, most of itconditional on the establishment of a broader package by the International Monetary Fund.

The Canadian government has also imposed economic sanctions and travel bans on 45 Ukrainian and Russian officials.

Further Canadian assistance

The ambassador said he expected Harper would make further announcements "as soon as he arrives" inKyivon Saturday.

Prystaiko said they"are working on different projects," some thatmay require technical assistance, and some thatmay need financial support.

The ambassador said money is good but Canada could lend its expertise in a wide range of fields.

Prystaiko said he would expect Harper to send a team of election observers in time for Ukraine's presidential elections at the end of May, as Canada has been known to do.

"I would expect that these elections, which will happen on May 25, will have some Canadian observers to help us with observation,"Prystaikosaid.

The ambassador said Canada could also help Ukraine rebuild its policing forces, orhelp with their hospitals, which are struggling to treat "hundreds of people."

Joan DeBardeleben, a political science professor at Carleton University in Ottawa andthe author of numerous books dealing with Russian politics, said there is definitely moreCanada can do to help restore stability in the country.

In particular,DeBardelebensaidCanada could offer advice to Ukraine's government on ways to reach out to the Russian minority in the country.

"In terms of developing mechanisms and vehicles of social inclusion for minorities. It's something we have a lot of experience with in terms of multiculturalism."

"The legitimacy of the new interim government in Ukraine will depend very heavily on whether it succeeds in that task," DeBardelebensaid.

Expelling Russia from G8?

Harper will travel from Ukraineto the Netherlands for bilateral meetings with his Dutch counterpart, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte. Here, Harper will be accompaniedby Industry Minister James Moore.

While in The Hague, Harper will attendthe third Nuclear Security Summit, which will be hosted by Rutte.

Prystaiko said Ukraine's interim prime minister would see Harper again during the summit, hopingto "squeeze in as much as possible in this short visit."

An emergency meeting of the G7will be hosted by the U.S. aroundthe summit toconsider a further response to Russia's move to annex Ukraine's Crimea region.

TheG7includes the U.S.,Germany, Britain, Canada, France, Japan and Italy. The European Union was also invited to take part in the talks.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said this week that the leaders should discuss expelling Russia from the G8, a move Canada has said the groupought to consider.

Baird also raised the topic this week saying while it was up to the leaders to make that decision, where Canada was concerned,Russia could "absolutely" get expelled from the G8.

Harper first drew a line in the sand with Putin, during a meeting of theG8in Northern Ireland last summer, when he publicly denounced Putin for hissupport of Syrian PresidentBasharal-Assad'sregime.

"This isG7plus one," Harper said at the time.

Following the Nuclear Security Summit and the emergency meeting of the G7 leaders, Harper will travel to Germany where he will meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkelto discuss a number of bilateral issues.

A discussion on the next steps in co-ordinating a response to the unrest in Ukraine will top Harper's agenda, along with Europe's economy, and the Canada-EU trade agreement.

International Trade Minister Ed Fast will accompany Harper for the last leg of his visit to Europe.