Anthony Albanese has said he is ‘open’ to sending Australian peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, just hours after the Defence Industry Minister dismissed the suggestion.
The Prime Minister and Opposition leader Peter Dutton both praised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following a heated White House meeting with US President Donald Trump last Friday.
On Tuesday afternoon Mr Trump announced a pause on all military aid to Ukraine and issued an ultimatum to President Zelenskyy.
Mr Albanese said the government had not been approached with any request yet, but was open to potential peacekeeping operations.
‘There are proposals being discussed. If a request is made, then we would give consideration to it,’ he told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday.
‘Australia has historically played an important role in areas, including in Africa, in Cyprus, in a range of peacekeeping areas.
‘We want to see peace in Ukraine. But we want to make sure that the illegal, immoral actions of Russia are not rewarded, and that Vladimir Putin and his designs – which are imperialistic, not just on Ukraine, but on other countries – are not rewarded or encouraged.’
Mr Albanese said Australia’s alliance with the US remained important to the nation.
Anthony Albanese (pictured) has said he is ‘open’ to sending Australian peacekeeping troops to Ukraine just hours after a defence minister dismissed the suggestion
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (left) had a heated White House meeting with US President Donald Trump (right) last Friday
‘Australia determines our foreign policy,’ he said.
‘We do it in Australia’s national interests. And it is in Australia’s national interest to stand with Ukraine, and that’s what my government is doing.’
Earlier on Tuesday, though, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said Australia was not considering sending peacekeepers to Ukraine.
‘We’re not envisaging that sort of commitment, but we stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine, and we are proud to be the biggest dominant non-NATO contributor,’ he said.
Australia has given $1.5billion in taxpayers money to Ukraine since the war began three years ago.
A White House official said Mr Trump is focused on reaching a peace deal to end the conflict, and wants Mr Zelenskyy ‘committed’ to that goal.
They added that the US was ‘pausing and reviewing’ its aid to ‘ensure that it is contributing to a solution.’ The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the assistance.
