Key Factors
- Australia will donate a further 30 protected mobility autos to Ukraine.
- Australia has now dedicated 120 of the autos to Ukraine.
- Anthony Albanese mentioned Australia was steadfast in its dedication to Ukraine.
Australia will donate a further 30 Bushmaster protected mobility autos to Ukraine, Anthony Albanese has introduced.
The prime minister met with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Lithuania on Wednesday night time, the place he pledged additional navy help to help the nation in its combat towards Russia.
The bundle builds on Australia’s earlier dedication of 90 Bushmasters, taking the overall quantity to 120.
Australia has offered greater than $710 million in navy help, with total help reaching a complete of $890 million.
Albanese mentioned Australia remained steadfast in its dedication to help Ukraine.
“We’re proud to offer extra Bushmaster autos to help the courageous women and men preventing for his or her dwelling and their nation’s sovereignty,” he mentioned.
The Bushmasters already offered by Australia “have been significantly useful in saving lives in Ukraine,” Albanese mentioned he had been informed by the Ukrainian president and Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov.
“Russia unilaterally launched this unlawful and immoral invasion and will withdraw its troops and finish the battle instantly.”
Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude after assembly Albanese.
“Thanks! A strong new defence bundle, together with 30 Bushmasters,” he wrote on the Telegram app.
Australia this week introduced an additional step in its help for Ukraine – the deployment of an RAAF E-7A Wedgetail plane to guard the circulate of help.
Albanese at NATO summit
Earlier, Albanese informed NATO leaders Australia’s partnership with the safety alliance is essential for world peace and prosperity.
The prime minister is within the Lithuanian capital Vilnius as a part of a bunch of 4 Indo-Pacific nations sharing their considerations with European and different NATO companions concerning the world affect of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
NATO members invited Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea to offer perception into broader safety challenges comparable to China’s navy enlargement.
Albanese spoke on the summit, the place it’s understood he informed leaders retaining the peace was not merely the duty of main powers however that every one international locations wanted to contribute to the world’s collective resilience.
He outlined Australia’s work in reforming the defence power, working with Washington and London on the AUKUS partnership, and boosting diplomatic work within the Indo-Pacific area and with NATO companions.
After his assembly with Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO secretary normal informed reporters China “will not be our adversary”.
Chinese language authorities mentioned in a press release the nation opposed NATO’s “eastward motion into the Asia-Pacific area”.
“Any act that jeopardises China’s respectable rights and pursuits might be met with a resolute response,” they mentioned.
Ukraine is looking for to affix NATO, however admission to the alliance is unlikely to happen quickly.
NATO leaders have agreed on a long-term help bundle, deeper political ties and to additional work with Ukraine on its accession which isn’t anticipated to happen till the conflict is over.
Albanese spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron on the summit’s sidelines on Tuesday, in addition to his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak, discussing progress on the AUKUS pact, the free commerce settlement and cricket.
The prime minister additionally met with a bipartisan delegation of US senators who will play a job in passing legal guidelines to allow the switch of Virginia class nuclear-powered submarines to Australia beneath the AUKUS partnership.
Commerce and local weather have been on the agenda for a gathering with European Fee president Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday.
