Ukrainian Zelensky says he has appointed Liberal MP Chrystia Freeland as economic advisor

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed liberal MP Chrystia Freeland as economic development adviser, citing her experience attracting investment.

The new role, announced Monday, reignites questions over when the long-serving MP will resign, triggering a by-election in a minority Parliament.

Freeland, of Ukrainian descent, served as deputy prime minister between 2019 and 2024. She has long been one of Canada’s most vocal opponents of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“At present, Ukraine needs to strengthen its internal resilience – both for the sake of its recovery if diplomacy yields results as quickly as possible, and to strengthen our defense if, due to the delays of our partners, it takes more time to end this war,” Zelensky wrote on Monday

Freeland is already Canada’s spokesperson special representative for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

A source close to Freeland said Zelensky asked her to take on the new role on Dec. 22 while she was in Ukraine, and that she informed Prime Minister Mark Carney of the request on Christmas Eve.

The source, who spoke on condition that they not be named because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said Freeland argued that the new job was a continuation of the work she was doing and that she saw it as a good thing for Canada and Ukraine.

It is unclear whether Freeland will continue in the special representative role as well as her new advisory role.

Conservatives call for Freeland’s resignation as MP

The position in Ukraine is not full-time and is unpaid, the source said.

In September Freeland announced she was retiring from the cabinet, but she still represents the Toronto riding of University—Rosedale. Freeland has not officially announced any plans to resign as an MP.

In November she was appointed new CEO of the Rhodes Trustan educational charity based in Oxford, England. Freeland’s office confirmed she will be moving to the UK for the gig, which begins July 1.

The source close to Freeland said more news about his plans to leave politics would come “very soon,” but no date has been set.

Conservatives are calling for his rapid resignation.

“You cannot be a Canadian MP and advisor to a foreign government,” declared Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chong. “She has to do one or the other.

“She should resign as a councilor or MP for University-Rosedale.”

Conservative MP Roman Baber called the situation a “blatant conflict of interest.”

CBC News has contacted Canada’s Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner for comment.

Carney promises $2.5 billion for Ukraine

The source said Zelensky would like Freeland to organize an international advisory council on Ukraine’s reconstruction.

His appointment comes as Carney travels to Paris to meet with other allies in a bid to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Late last month, Carney announced a $2.5 billion program loans and debt suspension for Ukraine. This brings Canada’s total commitment to Ukraine in military, humanitarian and economic aid since Russia’s invasion in 2022 to $22 billion.

Zelensky said last week that after weeks of U.S.-led diplomacy, including talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida, a peace deal was “90 percent ready.” Zelensky said over the past month that Ukrainian and U.S. officials have worked on several documents related to post-war reconstruction and investment.

Taras Kachka, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister, said on Saturday that international partners had reached consensus on an economic support package worth around US$800 billion for Ukraine over the next decade. The plan is based on calculations by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the European Union and would cover damage compensation, reconstruction and economic stability as well as $200 billion in growth.

Freeland has shaken Russia in the past.

She was among several Canadian officials subject to retaliatory sanctions imposed by Vladimir Putin’s government in 2014, the year Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine.

After Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022, she was a leading supporter among Ukraine’s allies of freezing some Russian assets.