Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has paid tribute to the bravery of Ukrainians as he used a trip to Kyiv to promise an extra $100 million in military aid.
The prime minister visited the towns of Bucha, Irpin and Hostomel near the capital on Sunday, under very tight security, before meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv.
In war-torn Irpin he described what he saw as “devastating”.
“Here we have what is clearly a residential building,” Mr Albanese said.
“Another one just behind it. Brutally assaulted. You know, this is a war crime.”
Mr Albanese pledged to provide Ukraine with an additional 14 armoured personnel carriers, and 20 more Bushmaster vehicles and drones.
The $99.5 million boost is on top of a previously announced $285 million in military assistance, which included 40 Bushmasters and artillery pieces and $65 million in humanitarian assistance.
Australia’s aid to Ukraine now totals about $390 million – the largest non-NATO nation contribution and more than at least half a dozen NATO members have provided.
Mr Albanese also announced a ban on imports of Russian gold and sanctions and travel bans on 16 more Russian ministers and oligarchs, bringing the total number to 843 individuals and 62 entities targeted.
Meeting with Mr Zelenskiy, the prime minister reaffirmed Australia’s support for Ukraine and promised to back the nation.
“I pay tribute to the courage, resilience, bravery and determination of you as the leader of Ukraine, of your defence force, but importantly as well of your entire population who are determined to stand up to a bully which is breaching international law without any provocation or any excuse,” Mr Albanese said.
“Australia stands ready to continue to support the government and the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes for Ukraine to emerge victorious in defence of your national sovereignty and your homeland.”
Mr Zelenskiy thanked his Australian counterpart for visiting and for the support.
“Our defenders highly appreciated, in particular, the Australian Bushmaster armoured personnel carriers and other specific assistance from Australia,” he said.
“I am grateful to Australia for its firm, unyielding position on this issue.”
Mr Zelenskiy said “Russia’s aggressive potential” must be broken through stronger international cooperation.
Australia’s shadow defence minister Andrew Hastie said Russia must cease its “unprovoked, unjust, and illegal” war in Ukraine, which had been “tacitly supported by China” and had heightened economic and strategic uncertainty across the globe.
“(Russia have) been unable to secure their military and political objectives in Ukraine due to the powerful resistance of the Ukrainian government and people, and through the support of international partners like Australia,” he said.
Mr Albanese had been in Europe for a NATO summit and meeting with French president Emmanuel Macron.
Defence Minister Richard Marles said it was significant that NATO, for the first time, had included threats from China in its future strategy.
“What it really says is that the global rules-based order – which has underpinned stability and prosperity in the world, but certainly in the Indo-Pacific – is being placed under a pressure now that is as equal, really, to any point that we’ve seen since the end of the Second World War,” he told the ABC.
He said having countries such as Russia and China stick to global rules was “not an esoteric point” for Australia.
“Because when you think about the South China Sea, most of Australia’s trade traverses it.”
The Ukraine visit won’t be the last diplomatic event for Mr Albanese this week.
Regional security, economic ties and climate will be on the agenda for a meeting with Jacinda Ardern in Sydney on Wednesday and Thursday.
By Tess Ikonomou and pool reporter in KYIV
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