Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia has called for ongoing, goals-based military assistance to secure his nation’s victory against Russia.
Marking a year since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko addressed the National Press Club in Canberra and called for a step-up in support.
Mr Myroshnychenko said Russia would only respond to strength and therefore military aid from the west must align with the ultimate goal of Ukrainian success.
“This war will not be won by business as usual,” he said on Friday.
“It will be won by all those on the side of democracy being beyond brave to overcome a shared challenge. We need strength we last mastered in the Second World War.
“Australia has always shown greater strength in the world than its size would ordinarily dictate.”
Australia announced it would provide drones to Ukraine to help Kyiv in its fight against Russia.
The $33 million package will help intelligence gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
A further suite of financial sanctions and travel bans will also be rolled out against 90 people and 40 entities.
Mr Myroshnychenko thanked the Australian government for the humanitarian and military aid, saying it had helped Kyiv take back 50 per cent of recently occupied territories.
“It is the ANZAC spirit and Australian mateship for Ukraine on wheels, wheels that roll toward mutual victory,” he said.
“The more Aussie mateship, the faster Ukraine’s and democracy’s victory.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop the war in Ukraine and withdraw his forces.
Mr Albanese paid tribute to Ukrainians, who had shown courage and resilience against a much larger country.
“President Putin: stop this war now, withdraw your forces, this is an unprovoked attack,” he said in Wollongong on Friday.
“No one is threatening Russia. No one is threatening Russia’s sovereignty. There is no need for you to continue this war.”
Since the invasion began, Australia has donated almost $700 million in support, $510 million of which is military-related.
It includes 90 Bushmasters, 28 armoured vehicles, anti-armour weapons and howitzers and ammunition.
The first 200 Ukrainian recruits have also graduated from military training run by Australian and British soldiers in the UK.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said Ukraine would be one of Australia’s great friends and allies long into the future.
“(The support) needs to continue. It does come at a cost. But there is a huge cost of inaction as well,” he told Sky News.
Canberra has also put more than 1000 sanctions on Russian and Belarusian politicians, generals and oligarchs as part of an international effort to strangle their economies and ability to fund the war.
This includes new listings against one of Russia’s largest arms manufacturers, a submarine developer, an aviation company and a missile designer.
Mr Myroshnychenko warned President Putin was relying on the world becoming tired of the war and easing pressure on him.
“Justice is very important. We can’t leave those crimes against humanity, war crimes, crimes of aggression, it cannot be left unpunished,” he said.
Meanwhile, China has called for a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia and the opening of peace talks as part of a 12-point proposal to end the conflict.
The plan issued by China’s foreign ministry also urges the end of western sanctions on Russia, the establishment of humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians and steps to ensure the export of grain.
Australia joined 140 other member states to support a resolution calling for a just peace in Ukraine at an emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly overnight, but China abstained.
with Associated Press
© AAP 2023
