U.S. President Joe Biden did not invite Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to a video call with world leaders on Monday about Russia’s military buildup on Ukraine’s borders.
The invitation shows that European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, European Council president Charles Michel and NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg were included on the call.
The world leaders invited were French President Emmanuel Macron, German chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian president Mario Draghi, Polish president Andrzej Duda and British prime minister Boris Johnson.
The call took place in the Situation Room in the White House and was closed to the press.
Conservative MP James Bezan raised concerns about the snub in a tweet.
“This is what happens when you fail to stand up for Ukraine,” he said.
The U.S. State Department and the British government have reported that some embassy staff and their families were advised to start to leave Ukraine because of Russia’s increasing aggression.
Trudeau has not said whether Canada would follow suit by withdrawing its diplomats and their employees from the eastern European country.
“We are following the situation in Ukraine extremely closely,” he said. “The safety of Canadian diplomats and their families is of course paramount, and we will continue to be there for Ukraine and ensure the safety of Canadians and Ukrainians.”
Russia has sent soldiers to Ukraine’s borders and announced naval drills as the countries prepare for a potential armed conflict.
Six Russian military ships capable of carrying troops, tanks and other vehicles have travelled across the Mediterranean Sea and could land on Ukraine’s southern shore if Russian president Vladimir Putin orders an attack.
Ukraine’s intelligence services have claimed that Russia is hiring soldiers and supplying proxy forces with fuel, military vehicles and ammunition for a possible invasion.
