Australia will ship further than $100m in new assist to Ukraine together with navy instruments, as properly as levelling sanctions on 16 new Russian officers, pursuing major minister Anthony Albanese’s thriller journey to Kyiv.
Albanese tacked on a day check out to Ukraine on the cease of his European trip for the Nato summit, wherever he fulfilled the nation’s president Volodymyr Zelenskiy and toured components of the place devastated by Russia’s aggression.
The PM claimed in a assertion subsequent his tour:
Russia’s brutal invasion is a gross violation of world legislation. I noticed to begin with-hand the devastation and trauma it has inflicted on the folks in the present day of Ukraine …
My go to to Kyiv and the newest visits by different total world leaders sends a obvious data that democratic nations like Australia will stand side by side with the Ukrainian individuals of their time of want.
The Australian federal authorities skilled stored the holiday lower than restricted wraps for stability functions, with solely a compact pool of journalists licensed to trip with him to Ukraine, and a media blackout imposed on Australian media till he skilled remaining the state. Nonetheless, worldwide media and Ukrainian officers reported details of the journey beforehand, prematurely of Albanese’s place of business releasing an announcement round 6.30am AEST on Monday.
In his assertion, Albanese absolutely commited $99.5m in military steering, like 14 armoured personnel carriers, 20 Bushmaster secured mobility motor automobiles and different armed forces merchandise a contribution to Nato’s Ukraine Thorough Steerage Bundle Belief Fund and $8.7m to assist Ukraine’s Border Guard Service to replace border administration gear, cybersecurity and border operations within the business.
Australia will impose new monetary sanctions and trip bans on 16 additional Russian ministers and oligarchs, as very properly as program to will intervene on the worldwide courtroom of justice in assist of Ukraine in its circumstance from Russia.
The federal government may even let responsibility-no price entry to Australia for Ukrainian imports, and prohibit the import of Russian gold.
Albanese reported the brand new contributions deliver Australia’s complete navy steering to Ukraine to about A$388m:
I sincerely thank President Zelenskyy, the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Australian Defence Drive for ensuring the security of my check out.
President Zelenskyy’s management has rallied the Ukrainian people to defend their place and impressed the world to help humanity and liberty. The road forward is actually arduous however I’m assured Ukraine will prevail.
Related: Australian PM visits web pages of alleged Russian atrocities in Ukraine
