Canada should, together with its U.S. and European allies, impose personal sanctions on members of the Ukrainian governing authorities akin to those provided in the Magnitsky legislation if they continue to use force against peaceful protesters and place undue pressure on civil society, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) has said.

Following a detailed four-hour debate on the situation in Ukraine at the House of Commons of the Canadian Parliament on December 10, the UCC proposed a strategy for the parliament and government of Canada regarding the recent events in Ukraine.

"Any actions by Canada must not result in the isolation of Ukraine. Otherwise, Ukraine will slip back into Russia's sphere of influence, thereby losing its sovereignty," the UCC said.

According to the UCC, the strategy should be two-pronged – government to government pressure and support for civil society.

The UCC also said that Canada should call upon the governing authorities of Ukraine to release from jail all peaceful protestors, refrain from using force to break up peaceful demonstrations, end any undue pressure on civil society, students and journalists in relation to Euromaidans' activities, as well as punish all those responsible for gross human rights violations related to peaceful protests at Euromaidans.

"Failing which, Canada should, together with its U.S. and European allies, impose personal sanctions on those responsible for these violations akin to those provided for in the Magnitsky legislation," the UCC said in a statement.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress also proposed to develop a sound policy and plan to address Russia's violations of its international commitments, particularly the 1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances in connection with Ukraine's accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, with which Russia committed to refrain from economic pressure on Ukraine.

According to the UCC, Canada in concert with U.S. and European authorities should play a leadership role in the G8, the G20, the International Monetary Fund and other international organizations to explore all of the ways in which the international community can combat money laundering in and through Ukraine, in particular explore with its international partners the means by which the international travel and illicit "business" activities of corrupt business people, government officials and their families could be restricted.

At the same time, the UCC proposes in coordination with her European allies, Canada should offer loans or loan guarantees to support Ukraine in its transition to the EU, restart negotiations for a Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement to help Ukraine diversify its economic dependence on Russia.

"We must work with our international allies to offset the intense economic and political pressure being applied by Russia on Ukraine to turn its back on the EU and join the Eurasian Economic Union, which is no more than an attempt by Russia to recreate the Soviet Union," UCC National President Paul Grod said.

He also proposed Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to consider boycotting the Olympic Games in Sochi if Russia doesn't respect the choice of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.