Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau jointly announced on Wednesday that they will be separating, following “many meaningful and difficult conversations.”

“As always, we remain a close family with deep love and respect for each other and for everything we have built and continue to build,” the prime minister wrote in a statement on Instagram.

“For the well-being of our children, we ask that you respect our and their privacy,” he added.