THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Wednesday, February 25, 2026
(23)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met this day at 4:16 p.m., in room C128, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Peter M. Boehm, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Adler, Al Zaibak, Boehm, Deacon (Ontario), Gerba, Harder, P.C., Hébert, Kutcher, Wilson and Woo (10).
Participating in the meeting: Brian Hermon and Zak Black, Analysts, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, September 25, 2025, the committee continued its study of foreign relations and international trade generally. (Topic: Situation in Ukraine)
WITNESSES:
Center for Strategic and International Studies:
Max Bergmann, Director, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia program (by videoconference).
Institute for the Study of War:
George Barros, Russia Team Lead, Senior Analyst (by videoconference).
As individuals:
Kristy Ironside, Associate Professor of Russian History and William Dawson Scholar;
Dani Belo, Assistant Professor of International Relations (by videoconference).
Kristy Ironside and Dani Belo each made a statement and answered questions.
At 5:12 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:17 p.m., the committee resumed.
Max Bergmann and George Barros each made a statement and answered questions.
At 6:09 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Chantal Cardinal
Clerk of the Committee