Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Photo: Flip through Zelensky’s Facebook (file photo)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (Volodymyr Zelensky) addressed the Australian Parliament on March 31. Zelensky emphasized in a 16-minute video speech that although Ukraine’s capital Kyiv (Kyiv) and Australia’s capital Canberra (Canberra) 15,000km away, Australia is also not safe with the conflict escalating into a nuclear war, and failure to act now with Russia might pose a threat to peace around the world.
According to The Australian Financial Review, Zelensky said bluntly: “The most frightening situation is that if we don’t stop Russia now, if we don’t hold Russia accountable, then some of the rest of the world is ready to confront their neighbors. Countries that start a similar war in China will think they can do it too (something like Russia).” The Associated Press reported that the remarks suggested that once Russia wins the war once morest Ukraine, it will encourage China to declare war on Taiwan .
Zelensky also implored the Canberra authorities to provide Kyiv with an Australian-made “Bushmaster” four-wheel-drive armored vehicle, saying: “You have a very good armored personnel carrier, the Bushmaster. There are other equipment that can provide substantial assistance to Ukraine.” He also pointed out that if Moscow had been punished for the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 by a Russian-made missile in Ukraine, Russia would not have invaded Ukraine now.
Zelensky also called on countries to ban Russian ships from ports, saying: “We have to impose more strong sanctions on Russia until they stop using nuclear bombs to blackmail other countries.” Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison Tell Zelensky early that Australia will provide more military assistance, including tactical decoys, drones and unmanned ground systems, rations and medical supplies, etc. This additional assistance will cost 25 million Australian dollars (approximately NT$536.8 million). Yuan).
Australia had previously pledged A$91 million in military aid, A$65 million in humanitarian aid and 70,000 tonnes of coal to Ukraine. In addition, Australia also announced that it will impose a 35% tariff on all goods imported from Russia and Belarus from April 25. From April 25, Australia will also ban Russian oil and energy imports, and domestic aluminum ore will not be exported to Russia.