Harper in Kyiv as renewed violence intensifies in eastern Ukraine

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, right, during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine on Saturday, June 6, 2015. A fresh outbreak of violence between government troops and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine is threatening to derail an already tenuous cease-fire. (AP / Sergei Chuzavkov)

Prime Minister Stephen Harper met with Ukraine’s top political leaders in Kyiv Saturday, where he pledged $5 million in additional funding to help train and assist the country’s police officers.

Harper and his wife, Laureen, touched down in the beleaguered country as violence between pro-Russian separatists and government troops reignited in eastern Ukraine.

Harper announced the aid as he toured a Kyiv police academy with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk Saturday morning. The funding is dedicated to helping create a new civilian patrol police force.

The pledge also includes 10 Canadian officers who will travel to Ukraine to help with training.

Yatsenyuk expressed gratitude for the assistance but said his country needs more military support. He is calling on Western allies to provide weapons that he says will be used only for defensive purposes.

Harper’s visit comes as renewed violence in eastern Ukraine intensifies. On Thursday, 500 explosions were recorded over a one-hour period in the city of Donetsk. Observers say it is the worst violence they’ve seen in the region throughout the 15-month conflict.

Marc Shwec, former president of the Toronto branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, said it’s “always helpful” when Canada supports Ukraine.

“Canada has been a global leader on this front,” Shwec told CTV News Channel on Saturday. “Cumulatively, Canada has given more proportionally, than any other nation so we’re of course extremely grateful to the government of Canada."

In addition, Harper’s presence in Ukraine demonstrated Canada’s “moral support” for the country, Schwec said.

Harper is also meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who earlier this week warned of a possible full-scale invasion by Russia.

Schwec said the warning should be taken seriously.

“Russia definitely could invade at any moment, why would they hold so many troops in reserve if they didn’t have plans to destabilize and possibly invade Ukraine,” Schwec said, adding the international community should continue to “ratchet up” sanctions against Russia.

Schwec also said that in the year since Poroshenko took office, he’s done much to promote a European path for Ukraine. “He’s trying to minimize corruption, to adopt western practices, to move towards European values and further distance Ukraine from Russia itself.”

Harper will travel from Ukraine to Germany, where he will attend the G7 Summit, set to begin on Sunday. Russia will be absent from the meeting. The country was suspended last year over the conflict in Ukraine.

Harper says Canada strongly opposes Russian President Vladimir Putin ever re-joining the world leaders’ group.

With files from CTV's Katie Simpson in Kyiv