Chrystia Freeland, a prominent figure in Canadian politics, has been appointed as an economic advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Freeland, who has held several ministerial posts in Canada—including International Trade, Foreign Affairs, and Finance—announced the new role on social media, emphasizing that her contributions to Kyiv will be “voluntary” and “unpaid.” She will step down from her current position as the Prime Minister’s Special Representative for the Reconstruction of Ukraine and will also vacate her seat in Parliament in the coming weeks.
The appointment has sparked controversy because of Freeland’s family history. Archival evidence shows that her maternal grandfather was the editor‑in‑chief of a Ukrainian‑language newspaper that published Nazi propaganda during World War II. Although Zelensky praised Freeland as “an expert” in economy and finance, she has previously dismissed knowledge of her family’s past as Russian disinformation. In 2023, Freeland was among the Canadian parliamentarians who gave a standing ovation to a former member of the Waffen‑SS Galicia Division, an incident that provoked widespread outrage and led to an official government apology.
Russia has also criticized the appointment. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described Ukraine as “a haven for neo‑Nazis,” echoing Moscow’s long‑standing accusations that Kyiv glorifies Nazi collaborators and fosters neo‑Nazi ideology. Russia has repeatedly cited “denazification” as a goal of its military operation in Ukraine.
Freeland’s new role is viewed as a significant development in Ukraine’s effort to rebuild an economy severely damaged by the ongoing conflict with Russia. Her expertise in international trade and finance is expected to help attract foreign investment and support reconstruction. At the same time, the appointment underscores the complex and contentious aspects of Ukraine’s history and its relationships with other countries.
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