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Public support will push forward Australia’s largest single military assistance package to Ukraine, according to Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles.
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The military assistance package, worth nearly $250 million, includes air defence missiles, air-to-ground weapons including guided weapons, anti-tank weapons, artillery, mortar, cannon and small arms ammunition.
In addition, Australia has announced it will supply a shipment of boots, ensuring the men and women of Ukraine’s armed forces are able to continue their vital efforts on the front line.
The announcement by the federal government takes Australia’s military assistance to Ukraine to more than $1.1 billion since the start of Russia’s full‑scale invasion, and overall assistance to more than $1.3 billion.
Deputy PM and Minister for Defence Richard Marles said Australia continues its steadfast support for Ukraine with the announcement.
“There is an enormous amount of support amongst the public in Australia for Ukraine’s cause. People understand that it’s not fair that a large country imposes itself on a smaller neighbour, not by reference to the rule of law, but by reference to power and might,” Minister Marles said, speaking at a doorstop interview in Sheffield in the United Kingdom this week.
“As a middle-sized country ourselves, we understand how important the global rules-based system is to maintaining our sovereignty, to maintaining our agency in the world and what we see in Ukraine is that under threat.
“I think the other point to make is that from the moment that China and Russia signed a no limits agreement on the eve of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is the moment that a conflict in eastern Europe, in a transformative way, became highly relevant to all of us in the Indo-Pacific.
“Lessons will be learned, good or bad, from what plays out in Ukraine for what happens in the Indo-Pacific. The war in Ukraine is shaping the Indo-Pacific. I think the Australian people understand that and they are very supportive of the contributions that we are making to Ukraine.
“Two-hundred fifty-million-dollar package in support of Ukraine. It’s the largest package that we’ve announced to date and it takes that military contribution, assistance to Ukraine to more than $1.1 billion. So it is significant, but it very much enjoys the support of the Australian people.”
Marles had recently met with Ukraine’s President Volodomyr Zelenskyy alongside Indo-Pacific Four (IP4) partners, where he reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to standing with Ukraine in its defence against Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion, at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Leaders’ Summit in Washington DC.
Australia will also join NATO’s new security and training initiative for Ukraine as an operational partner.
During his visit to Washington, the Deputy Prime Minister also joined other partners in signing the memorandum of understanding on the Drone Capability Coalition. This follows the Albanese government’s $30 million commitment to provide drones to Ukraine, as part of this important coalition.
In addition to the training of Ukrainian recruits being undertaken by Australian Defence Force personnel in the United Kingdom, as part of Operation Kudu.
“Australia is proud to stand with its partners at this historic NATO Summit to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to the government of Ukraine,” Minister Marles said.
“I was pleased to join IP4 partners in Washington DC to meet with President Zelenskyy and announce $250 million in additional military support.
“The delivery of highly capable air defence capabilities and air-to-ground precision munitions represents Australia’s largest single support package for Ukraine and will make an enormous contribution to its efforts to end the conflict on its terms.
“Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine stands as an affront to international law and the rules-based order.”
