Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reiterated Australia is open to contributing to a future peacekeeping effort in Ukraine as Britain flagged planning is moving to an “operational phase,” during a video hook-up with Western allies.
On Saturday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer rallied together a so-called “coalition of the willing” – some 29 Western nations, including European countries, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, but excluding the US.
Planning for a peacekeeping force for Ukraine will move to an “operational phase”, Mr Starmer said, as he sought concrete commitments to support Kyiv and urged allies to ramp up pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“We will build up Ukraine’s own defences and armed forces, and be ready to deploy as a ‘coalition of the willing’ in the event of a peace deal, to help secure Ukraine on the land, at sea and in the sky,” Mr Starmer said.
The UK PM has said Britain could send peacekeepers to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire deal but has called on Washington to offer a security “backstop”.
Mr Albanese said it was in the Australian national interest to support Ukraine.
“Australia is open to considering any requests to contribute to a future peacekeeping effort in support of the just and lasting peace we all want for Ukraine,” Mr Albanese said.
“Australia is always open to considering any new proposals to support Ukraine – which we do so based on our capacity and comparative strengths.”
While there has been bipartisan support for Ukraine in Australia, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has dismissed the idea of sending Australian peacekeepers to Ukraine as a “thought bubble”.
The call on Saturday builds on a flurry of diplomacy between European and other Western countries to find ways to help Ukraine after US President Donald Trump up-ended Washington’s previous support and launched peace talks with Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, also joined Saturday’s virtual meeting, in which leaders pledged to accelerate military support and tighten sanctions against Russia.
Mr Starmer said the Kremlin’s “dithering and delay” over Mr Trump’s ceasefire proposal, and Russia’s “continued barbaric attacks” on Ukraine, “run entirely counter” to Putin’s stated desire for peace.
Mr Albanese said it was not just a struggle for Ukraine’s national sovereignty.
“This is a struggle for the international rule of law,” he said.
“What happens in the Euro-Atlantic has serious implications for our region – the Indo-Pacific – and vice versa.”
Mr Albanese noted that Putin’s regime had “imperialist designs, for Ukraine and beyond”.
“We must ensure Russia’s illegal and immoral actions are not rewarded through any peace process,” he said.
Australia has committed $1.5 billion to help Ukraine defend itself, including $1.3 billion in military support and equipment such as Bushmaster vehicles. It has also helped train Ukrainian soldiers.
with agencies