MONTREAL, Feb 23, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
on Tuesday announced economic sanctions on Russia, saying Moscow's actions
against Ukraine were "a further invasion of a sovereign state, and it is
completely unacceptable."

   "We will ban Canadians from engaging in purchases of Russian sovereign
debt. And we will apply additional sanctions on to state-backed Russian banks
and prevent any financial dealings with them," Trudeau said, announcing a
series of measures.

   Canada's move came after US President Joe Biden announced sanctions on
Russia for "beginning" an invasion of Ukraine and as President Vladimir Putin
signaled plans to send troops beyond Russia's borders.

   Britain and the European Union also unveiled sanctions in a wave of
similar announcements after Putin recognized the self-declared Donetsk and
Lugansk rebel republics.

   Western officials have been warning for weeks that Putin has been
preparing for an all-out invasion of Ukraine, a move that could spark a
catastrophic war in Europe.