The Australian authorities will present a brand new A$110 million ($73.5 million) bundle to Ukraine together with 70 navy autos to defend in opposition to Russia’s invasion, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese mentioned on Monday.
The recent commitments take Australia‘s complete contribution for Ukraine to A$790 million, together with A$610 million in navy assist, because the battle started in February 2022.
“This additional support will make a real difference, helping the Ukrainian people who continue to show great courage in the face of Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and immoral war,” Albanese mentioned throughout a media briefing in Canberra.
He mentioned the bundle was not prompted by occasions in Russia over the weekend when heavily-armed Russian mercenaries briefly took management of the Russian metropolis of Rostov, in one of many largest challenges to President Vladimir Putin’s grip on energy.
“No, we have been working on this proposal, with a view to taking it to cabinet this morning, for some time,” Albanese mentioned.
Australia is without doubt one of the largest non-NATO contributors to the West’s assist for Ukraine and has been supplying assist, ammunition and defence gear together with scores of Bushmaster armoured autos. It has banned exports of alumina and aluminium ores, together with bauxite, to Russia, and has sanctioned about 1,000 Russian people and entities.
To prop up Ukraine’s financial system and commerce, Albanese mentioned Australia may even prolong duty-free entry for items imported from Ukraine for an additional 12 months.
The newest navy help bundle will embrace 28 M113 armoured autos, 14 particular operations autos, 28 medium vehicles and 14 trailers.
Albanese mentioned his authorities welcomed the Australian excessive court docket’s resolution to dismiss a problem by Russia to forestall the federal authorities to take management of land leased to construct a brand new embassy close to the parliament home in Canberra.
“We expect the Russian Federation to act in accordance with the court’s ruling,” he mentioned.
Australia on June 15 canceled Russia’s lease to construct a brand new embassy citing nationwide safety, drawing criticism from Kremlin which mentioned the transfer by Canberra mirrored its anti-Russian sentiment.
Source: www.anews.com.tr
