Anna Vozna, a PhD student at the University of Ottawa, planned to come to the protest in Banff June 16. She initially made a sign for climate action, but changed it last minute in the wake of President Donald Trump's comments on inviting Russia to the G7 summit. (Glynn Brothen/Pattison Media)

By Glynn Brothen

seeking resolution

‘How do we survive again?’: Ukrainian refugees plead with G7 leaders to end the war following deadly civilian strike

Jun 17, 2025 | 11:13 AM

Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has landed in Kananaskis for a pivotal meeting with the Group of Seven in the wake of a recent civilian attack Monday evening in Kiev, leaving over 100 injured and 12 killed.

“This underscores the importance of standing in total solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a joint press conference Tuesday morning.

“Our families had a difficult night,” a weary-looking Zelenskyy said. “It’s a big tragedy and we need support from our allies.”

That support will come in the form over $4 billion, individualized sanctions, and pressure on over 40 entities, including 200 vessels in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s so-called shadow fleet.

Tuesday’s meeting on Ukrainian discussions will include extended invitations to outreach, including India, Brazil, Korea, Mexico, Australia, the European Union Commission and NATO. Most notably, Zelenskyy will lose his opportunity to connect with President Donald Trump, who abruptly departed the summit Monday night due to the Iranian-Israeli conflict.

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On Monday, roughly 80 kilometers away from the summit were protestors from Ukraine sharing their stories of seeking refuge in Canada.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress was one of the larger groups to attend, with refugees speaking of their experience fleeing the war. Their hope was for leaders to take direct action and work to end the war, rather than deliver platitudes.

Anna Vozna, a PhD student at the University of Ottawa, felt compelled to share her views on the threat of climate change. But in the wake of Trump’s comments bemoaning Russia’s absence at the summit, she changed her protest sign shortly before heading to the protest.

“I think it is absolutely abhorrent to communicate with a person like this in such a setting,” she said. “I believe in the diplomatic solutions, I just don’t believe he needs to be invited in such settings.”

Vozna who studies education and works with Ukrainian children wants leaders to pay attention to the effect war has on Ukrainian children, from a loss of identity, to inability to learn and develop normally.

“The children in Ukraine do not have opportunities to pursue education because so many schools are damaged… Russia has stolen a lot of Ukrainian children and re-educating them… erasing their Ukrainian identity in Russia,” she said.

Svitlana Sheiko (centre) watches on as others speak about their experience fleeing the war in Ukraine. (Glynn Brothen/Pattison Media)

Svitlana Sheiko delivered a speech in her native language to share the horrors she witnessed in flight from the war.

“We survived, but just when we began to feel safe, a new threat rose here in Canada — uncontrolled wildfires. Once again, smoke, once again, fear. And once again, we ask ourselves, how do we survive if something terrible happens again? How do we protect our children?”

The pair, draped in their country’s flag, joined climate change activists in calling for change.

“Today as leaders of the world’s most powerful democracies gather just steps from here, we ask you—Do you speak of values, or will you act to defend them?”

“Hear the voices of Ukrainians who are speaking not only of war, but of life, of dignity, of the future of our planet,” she said.

Olha Kulybanyeh compared the beauty of Banff to her native landscape, remarking bison and deer also reside in the national parks of Ukraine. Those areas, she said, have now been decimated by fires and bombings. Floods have covered entire villages, and thousands of animals have been killed or displaced by the chaos.

Repeated environmental destruction is tantamount to ecocide, she said.

Roksolana Lisovska, the head of the international news department at Suspilne News in Ukraine made the long journey to attend the event. Her viewers, she said, are hoping to hear of positive developments to come out of the summit.

“People are tiring of this war,” she said. “Of course we want to hear something positive, but it’s just a summit, it’s not obligatory.”

Roksolana Lisovska, the head of the international news department at Suspilne News in Ukraine made the long journey to attend the event. (Glynn Brothen/Pattison Media)

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glynn.brothen@pattisonmedia.com