According to the interim prime minister, Australia is exploring for fresh methods to assist Ukraine in the wake of the Russian incursion.
Richard Marles, the deputy prime minister, said Australia had so far pledged approximately $300 million in aid to Ukraine, albeit not all of it had been delivered.
Vasyl Myroshnychenko, the ambassador of Ukraine to Australia, requested that more Bushmaster vehicles be sent to the country in eastern Europe, and Mr. Marles concurred that help was required.
The Defence Minister said to reporters on Tuesday in Canberra, “We’re also considering at further ways in which we might support Ukraine.”
Despite the distance between Australia and Ukraine, the statement reads, “While Australia stands for the global rules-based order that it helped develop and maintain, we actually do believe that these principles need to be protected everywhere.”
Mr. Myroshnychenko stated that Australia had been one of Ukraine’s most important allies against Russian aggression as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese considers accepting an offer to visit the war-torn nation.
Australia is “punching above its weight,” he said on Tuesday, according to Sky News.
Australia has a history of opposing bullying behavior, and Prime Minister Albanese is very aware of this.
“(The new government) haven’t been able to announce any fresh aid package, but I’m sure it’s in the works,” the speaker says.
20 of the 40 Bushmasters that Australia promised to send to Ukraine have already arrived.
According to Mr. Myroshnychenko, rebuilding Ukraine after the conflict would cost at least $1 trillion, and full recovery would take “a generation or two.”
The prime minister has not yet indicated whether or not he will travel to Kyiv, but Mr. Myroshnychenko claimed that previous foreign leaders have done so despite the risk.
“Nobody is secure in Ukraine,” he declared, “but that’s just the reality of the fight because, well, it’s the war.”
“Last week, (UK Prime Minister) Boris Johnson traveled to Ukraine. The leaders of Italy, Germany, and France visited us, and we frequently have visitors.
If Mr. Albanese visits Ukraine, he will be the first prime minister of Australia to do so.
‘Australia is very well regarded in Ukraine … everybody is very positively surprised by how Australia has been able to stand out in this war because previously, in the past, we are so far away,’ Mr Myroshnychenko said.
‘My president has assured me Prime Minister Albanese is very welcome, he’d be delighted to see him.’
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said he wanted to see further action from Australia.
‘There’s more that we can do and I’m sure that will be considered by the government,’ he said.
‘We would strongly support fresh decisions … to provide that support to the Ukrainians because they need it, and the Russians will continue this onslaught.
‘This war is not going to come to an end quickly.’
Additionally, Mr. Myroshnychenko voiced the hope that Bruce Edwards, Australia’s ambassador to Ukraine, would be permitted to visit the nation once more.
Since the crisis started, employees from the Australian embassy have been based in Poland.
At least 16 people were killed in the most recent battle when Russian missiles attacked a center in the Kremenchuk city.
The upcoming NATO conference in Spain, where Australia will be present, is expected to center on the invasion.
According to Mr. Albanese, “This savage invasion is having genuine effects on the people of Ukraine, and the Ukrainian people are inspiring the world by fighting to maintain their national sovereignty and resisting this brutal invasion.”