Ukraine will get another $60 million in mainly military aid under a new security deal signed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The deal was signed in New York during the meeting of the UN Nations General Assembly.
Australia will supply $45m in weapons and other military equipment as well as $10m for an energy support fund and $5m in humanitarian assistance, taking Australia’s total support for that country to almost $1.9 billion.
Australia will also join the United Kingdom and a Norway-led maritime coalition to develop the Ukrainian navy.
The federal government also imposed extra sanctions on Russia, bringing the total to almost 1900 sanctions on Russia and its supporters with almost 300 of its shadow fleet listed as well.
The federal government believes the deal will prove valuable for Australian military given Ukraine’s four years of combat-hardened military innovation through the use of drones and other unmanned technology.
Click here to learn more about the deal.
REAFFIRMING SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE
Albanese reaffirmed Australia’s support for the European country during his UN meeting with Zelenskyy.
“Australians stand with Ukraine,” he says.
Zelenskyy says the deal is about more than immediate military security.
“It’s not about the war. It’s all about (a) long-term agreement,” he told journalists in New York.
Deputy PM and Defence Minister Richard Marles says they are “committed to supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes”.
“Through deeper defence co-operation, we can lend our strengths and insights to help grow (their) defence industrial base, and likewise learn from the hard-fought lessons of (their) resistance in developing our future capabilities.”
Foreign Minister Penny Wong also spoke of Australia’s “steadfast” support for the former Soviet Union bloc country.
“We … will continue to work with partners to impose costs on Russia and starve its war machine,” she says.
“Australia wants to see a lasting peace that upholds Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, supports security and stability in Europe, and ensures Russia does not renew its aggression.”
