Tempers flared and diplomatic tensions deepened between the United States and Canada this week, as American senators and officials delivered sharp rebukes over a controversial Ukraine peace proposal and an ongoing trade dispute. The drama unfolded against the backdrop of the Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia, where U.S. lawmakers used the international stage to voice concerns about both foreign policy and cross-border relations, while Canadian leaders pushed back against what they called unacceptable rhetoric and interference.
The immediate spark for the latest controversy came on November 22, 2025, when American senators roundly criticized a 28-point U.S. peace plan for Ukraine. The proposal, crafted by the Trump administration in collaboration with the Kremlin and notably without Ukraine’s direct input, included sweeping concessions to Russia—concessions that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly rejected. According to the Associated Press, the plan called for Ukraine to cede significant territory to Russia, a move widely seen as rewarding aggression rather than deterring it.
Senator Angus King of Maine, speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum, did not mince words. "You think Xi Jinping is paying attention to this? You think Kim Jong Un is paying attention? I mean, this is one of the most serious geopolitical mistakes in my lifetime," King declared, drawing a pointed historical parallel. He likened the proposal to the infamous Munich Pact of 1938, in which British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s appeasement of Adolf Hitler failed to prevent further aggression in Europe. "It rewards aggression. This is pure and simple. There’s no ethical, legal, moral, political justification for Russia claiming eastern Ukraine," King added, his remarks echoing through the Westin hotel’s packed conference hall.
Other senators echoed King’s outrage. Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina argued that Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell had not gone far enough in his own criticism of the plan. McConnell had stated, "if Administration officials are more concerned with appeasing Putin than securing real peace, then the President ought to find new advisors." But for Tillis, that was insufficient. "Putin is a murderer, a rapist and an assassin. We should not do anything that makes him feel like he has a win here. Honestly, I think what Mitch said was short of what should be said," Tillis insisted, according to the Associated Press.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was even more blunt. She labeled the peace plan "an outrage" and "a Putin plan," contending that it was "very clearly written by Putin and Russia for what they want to see." Shaheen went further, accusing former President Donald Trump of being manipulated by the Russian leader. "Donald Trump claims to be such a deal maker, claims to be so tough, but has allowed Vladimir Putin to play him for the last 10 months. It's a travesty. It's a travesty on the American people as well as the Ukrainian people," she said.
While the American delegation fumed, Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed the proposal, describing it on November 21 as something that "could form the basis of a final peace settlement"—provided the U.S. could persuade Ukraine and its European allies to accept the terms. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, for his part, did not reject the plan outright. Instead, he called for "fair treatment" and pledged to "work calmly" with Washington and other partners, acknowledging that this was "truly one of the most difficult moments in our history."
The Halifax International Security Forum, now in its 17th year, drew about 300 military officials, U.S. senators, diplomats, and scholars to its annual gathering at Halifax’s Westin hotel. Notably, the Trump administration had suspended participation of U.S. defense officials in think tank events, including this forum, in 2025—a move that only increased the visibility of the congressional delegation. As Senator Shaheen explained, "There’s real concern about that strain. That’s one reason why there’s such a big delegation is here." She added, "I will continue to object to what the president is doing in terms about tariffs and his comments because they are not only detrimental to Canada and our relationship, but I think they are detrimental globally. They show a lack of respect of sovereign nations."
Indeed, the U.S.-Canada relationship has been under considerable strain in recent months. The source of the tension? An escalating trade war, President Trump’s repeated suggestions that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state, and a sharp decline in cross-border tourism. According to Shaheen, states like New Hampshire have seen a dramatic drop in Canadian visitors, a trend she attributes to the souring tone of bilateral relations.
The diplomatic frost deepened further just days before the Halifax forum, when U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra accused Ottawa of meddling in American electoral politics. Speaking at the National Manufacturing Conference in Ottawa on November 19, Hoekstra lambasted an anti-tariff advertisement released by Ontario in October. The ad, which featured a clip of President Ronald Reagan speaking against tariffs, was government-funded—a fact that Hoekstra claimed amounted to foreign interference. "You do not come into America and start running political ads, government-funded political ads... and expect that there will be no consequences or reaction from the [US government]," Hoekstra said, according to reports from Canadian media outlets.
The ambassador’s remarks were not the first sign of American ire. President Trump, upon learning of the ad’s release in October, reportedly terminated all trade talks with Canada and refused to speak with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Hoekstra himself had an expletive-laden confrontation with Ontario’s trade representative, David Paterson, prompting Ontario Premier Doug Ford to demand an apology. Ford called the ambassador’s tirade "absolutely unacceptable" and "unbecoming" of his diplomatic post.
Asked on November 20 whether negotiations would resume, Hoekstra offered little hope. "It's not going to be easy," he said. He went on to revive Trump’s controversial "51st state" rhetoric, telling the Ottawa audience, "I go around the country and people will say, Pete you just don't understand why we're so mad about the 51st state, and it's kind of like, yeah, you're right, I don't." Hoekstra warned Canada that "if Canada wants to insert itself and create a new precedent that you're going to participate in our electoral politics... I would suggest that you seriously consider whether that is the best way to try to achieve your objectives."
All of this drama has left Canada’s leaders and public both frustrated and wary. Premier Ford’s demand for an apology highlights the extent to which the rhetoric has moved beyond policy disagreements to personal and national affronts. Meanwhile, the suspension of U.S. defense officials from Canadian think tank events and the decline in tourism underscore the tangible costs of the ongoing standoff.
As the Halifax forum drew to a close, it was clear that U.S.-Canada relations—and the wider question of how to respond to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine—remain deeply unsettled. With high-profile figures on both sides digging in, the prospect of a quick resolution seems remote. For now, the only certainty is that the world is watching, and the stakes—for Ukraine, for North America, and for the international order—could hardly be higher.
