Australia open to Ukraine peacekeeping operations: PM
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has left the door open to Australian troops serving in peacekeeping operations in Ukraine.
Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have both backed in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following his heated White House meeting with US President Donald Trump, who threatened to stop support for the European nation’s defence efforts.
Albanese said his government had not been approached with any requests 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 said in Sydney on Tuesday.
“Australia has historically played an important role in areas, including in Africa, in Cyprus, in a range of peacekeeping areas.
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“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.”
On the divergence between Australia and the US, Albanese said the alliance remained important to the nation.
“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.”
Australia has committed $1.5 billion in aid to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion three years ago.
