Opening Remarks – Bilateral Meeting Of Australia And Ukraine
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Can I kick off, Minister, by saying it is wonderful to have you in our part of the world. It was my great honour to meet you in Kyiv with President Zelenskyy and to convey our support for what is a courageous struggle of the Ukrainian people in standing up for your national sovereignty. But in doing so, standing up for the international rule of law as well. Since we met, you would know that we have increased our support for Ukraine up to now some $655 million, $475 million dollars of that being military assistance. And that has the bipartisan support across our Australian Parliament. So, in this regard, I can truly speak on behalf of all the Australian people. After a discussion I had with President Zelenskyy, we have determined to provide an additional 30 Bushmasters, taking the total to be provided to Ukraine up to 90, and we are very proud that this is making a substantial difference to the defence of your people. We also will be contributing to the UK’s training mission operation, Operation Interflex, to train Ukrainian personnel and send 70 members of the Australian Defence Force to the United Kingdom to assist with that training. But the ongoing targeting of civilians by Vladimir Putin’s forces is reprehensible and against international law, and I express on behalf of the Australian people our condolences for the loss of life that the Ukrainian people are enduring. There would be, I’m sure, no one in Ukraine and, indeed, the diaspora in Australia – no one that has not been impacted, very personally and very directly, as a result of the Russian illegal aggression against Ukraine. Be assured of Australia’s ongoing support and our admiration for your struggle.
HIS EXCELLENCY MR DMYTRO KULEBA, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, UKRAINE: Thank you, Prime Minister. As you already mentioned, Bushmasters are a very popular Australian brand in Ukraine, and they became a symbol of your political, economic and military support. And I myself saw this from those in the East and South of Ukraine, soldiers and Bushmasters who were advancing and liberating Ukrainian territories and saving civilians and occupied territories from Russian savagery. Ukraine will always remember this support that the people of Australia extended to us, and we will definitely prepare so that when victory comes it will be a joint success – in defending principles of the UN Charter, and international law, and the rules-based order – in the war that Russia so viciously waged against Ukraine. We have won the battle in Kherson in the South, which was quite an exercise I must say. But the war goes on, and I understand that everyone wants this war to end as soon as possible and we are definitely the ones who want it more than anybody else. But as long as the war continues and we see Russia mobilising and bringing more heavy weapons to Ukraine. Of course, we will continue to count on your continued support because I think that the outcome of this war is pre-decided and this is what is happening. But it will take time and effort and we will save more lives and we will bring our victory closer, rather sooner than later, if we have friends like you. So thank you for your friendship and President Zelenskyy sends his best regards to you and words of appreciation for the support that Australia has extended to us.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you, Minister.