Premier Scott Moe says U.S. restoring Russian fertilizer market will fund death of Ukrainians

The Canadian Press

· Posted: Mar 26, 2025 10:37 AM EDT | Last Updated: 3 minutes ago

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says a program by the United States to reconstruct Russia's quality to merchantability fertilizer is simply a backchannel that funds Ukrainian decease and suffering.

"This is the astir disturbing enactment that I deliberation we've seen from [U.S. President Donald Trump] since his election," Moe told legislators Tuesday.

"In essence, what helium is doing is backing [Russian President] Vladimir Putin's authorities ... and backing the decease of Ukrainians."

Trump's medication says it would besides look to little maritime security costs and heighten Russia's entree to ports.

Following Moe's remarks, NDP Leader Carla Beck said it was astir clip that helium woke up to Trump's threats.

"I'm gladsome to perceive beardown words from that premier astir these actions due to the fact that up until now, the effect from that premier has been anemic and meek," she told the assembly.

"This latest announcement from Donald Trump isn't conscionable a betrayal of Ukraine, wherever radical volition proceed to beryllium killed and occupied nether Putin's amerciable invasion."

WATCH | Sask. NDP's question to condemn Trump's attacks connected Canada's system and sovereignty denied successful legislature: 

She said determination are besides consequences for Saskatchewan, the world's largest shaper of potash, a mineral utilized arsenic a fertilizer to assistance turn crops.

Beck said Russian potash, which has been sanctioned since the country's 2022 penetration of Ukraine, would flood the marketplace should the measures beryllium lifted.

"It's hard to believe, but present we are," she said.

Moe aboriginal told reporters the Trump administration's latest determination has changed however the state views the United States.

"We bash request to go little dependent, unfortunately, connected the United States of America," helium said.

"It's a bittersweet happening for america to say."

Moe said the state whitethorn alteration however it responds to Trump's threats but declined to accidental what that enactment would look like.

The national authorities has retaliated with 25 per cent levies connected U.S. goods worthy $29.8 billion.

Saskatchewan responded by nary longer purchasing American intoxicant and is moving to procure much Canadian supplies for nationalist infrastructure projects.

Moe has doubly travelled to Washington, D.C., to person U.S. lawmakers astir the punishing effects of tariffs connected Canada and the United States. He said helium ne'er had discussions with U.S. officials astir Russian sanctions being perchance lifted.

Beck said Moe needs to get superior astir Trump's tariffs, citing past week's provincial fund that does not acceptable speech contingency funds to supply alleviation to affected industries.

"This is simply a clip for leaders to lead," she said. "This is simply a clip to acceptable speech partisan crap, to enactment crossed partisan and provincial lines and to conscionable the situation that's been brought to us."