The appointed Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada said today, Wednesday, that the best way to ensure the safety of diplomats returning to their posts in Kyiv is to strengthen the country's military assistance.

In her speech at the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Commons, Yulia Kovaliv referred to the recent Russian missile strike on a civilian building in central Kyiv, which resulted in the death of a journalist during the visit of the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, as an example of the unpredictability of Russian force.

She told the deputies, "Increasing military assistance is the best guarantee that can be offered as of today." She added, "Of course, ensuring diplomatic relations and the presence of people on the ground is important for further work, yet I would say that we are now in very close cooperation and communicating with the Canadian Foreign Ministry and working here on the ground."

Kovaliv's statements come as the Canadian government faces pressure to reopen its embassy in Kyiv, which was closed on February 12, just weeks before Russia's invasion.

Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly told the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee last week that Ottawa is considering "different scenarios" for reopening its embassy in the coming days or weeks.

The United Kingdom, France, Italy, the United States, and other countries have indicated that they intend to reopen their embassies soon.

Kovaliv praised the military and economic support that Canada has provided to Ukraine so far, including the latest shipment of heavy artillery and ammunition to Ukraine.