Anthony Albanese recommits to Ukraine peacekeeping offer, says Australia ‘stands up to bullies’

Anthony Albanese has described a call of global leaders on peace in Ukraine as “very positive”, as he recommitted Australia to a peacekeeping force saying the nation “stood up to bullies”.

Speaking to reporters in Melbourne after the early morning call of the “Coalition of the Willing” on Ukraine, which included UK, European, Canadian and New Zealand leaders, Mr Albanese said the international community needed to continue to apply pressure to Russia to strike a ceasefire agreement.

It comes as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine enters its third year, and the Donald Trump administration pulled support from defence measures. The US pullout culminated in a heated Oval Office discussion between Mr Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.

Asked on Sunday, Mr Albanese said all countries, including the US, needed to stand up to Russia.

“Russia, Vladimir Putin is a bully. You know what Australians do? They stand up to bullies. They don’t get intimidated by an authoritarian leader, engage in that sort of rhetoric,” he said.

“Vladimir Putin is someone who’s an authoritarian leader who has imperialist designs on not just Ukraine, on the region, and that is why the whole world needs to stand up against this Russian aggression and needs to stand with Ukraine.

“We want the United States and all countries to play a positive role here.”

Mr Albanese said Australia’s offer to commit troops to peacekeeping measures remained, but a ceasefire needed to be struck first.

“The participants last night were all committed to peace in Ukraine. In order to achieve that, Russia must agree to a ceasefire firstly, but it must also agree to stop its aggression against Ukraine,” he said.

“It is premature to talk about that detail, but Australia has a proud record, over 80 years of participating in peacekeeping missions, including in Africa, in Cyprus, in a range of countries around the world.

“It would be a small contribution if we chose to do so. But what we want to see is peace so that you can have peacekeeping.”

Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley on Sunday said the Liberals remained opposed to sending Australian troops to Ukraine.

“We think, though, that when it comes to boots on the ground, this is a matter better handled by Europe,” she said.

“But I’m always fascinated by these comments from Labor, because this is a government that couldn’t even get a ship load of coal to Ukraine to keep them warm during winter.

“This is a government that cut up helicopters, buried them in the ground instead of sending them to Ukraine for military aid.

“And this is a government that hasn’t even sent the promised M1 Abrams tanks to support people over there fight this illegal and immoral invasion.

“So I think when it comes to Ukraine, it’s what you deliver that counts.”