Prime Minister Scott Morrison calls out Russia’s threats but says Ukraine situation looking ‘inevitable’

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called out Russia’s threats towards the Ukraine but concedes the situation looks ‘regrettably inevitable’.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the unfolding situation in Ukraine looks ‘inevitable’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the unfolding situation in Ukraine, which has been under violent threats of intimidation by its Russian neighbour, is looking “regrettably inevitable”.

“The events in Ukraine continue to be profoundly disturbing,” Mr Morrison told reporters in Darwin on Saturday morning.

“I concur with the statements of so many leaders of free countries around the world that what we are seeing in Ukraine is looking regrettably inevitable.

“We hope that this is not the case. We hope that Russia will step back from its violent threats of intimidation on its neighbour.

“But it does appear, particularly in the reports that we’ve seen, that the likelihood of an invasion of Ukraine by Russia is imminent.”

Mr Morrison’s comments come after Joe Biden said he’s “convinced” that Russian president Vladimir Putin has decided to launch a further invasion in Ukraine, including an assault on its capital, Kyiv, as tensions spiked along the militarised border.

This satellite image shows tanks and armored personnel on the border. Picture: AFP

“We have reason to believe that Russian forces are planning to — intending to attack Ukraine in the coming week — in the coming days,” the President warned.

“We believe that they will target Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, a city of 2.8 million innocent people.

“As of this moment I’m convinced he’s made the decision. We have reason to believe that.”

Mr Morrison on Saturday said threats of violence and intimidation against Ukraine are “uninvited, unwelcome, unprovoked and unacceptable”.

“All free nations of the world will hold that view,” he said.

“I agree with (Japanese) Prime Minister Kishida, who has remarked, importantly, that we don’t effectively get to go and change the rules by using threats of violence in order to achieve that, and by seeking to intimidate sovereign nations.”

The PM said Australia is proud to stand with others such as the US, Japan, Europe and UK to condemn the bullying behaviour.

“Australia’s calling it out and we’ll provide the support that is necessary to assist, with our like-minded partners, to support those in Ukraine,” he said.

Originally published as Prime Minister Scott Morrison calls out Russia’s threats but says Ukraine situation looking ‘inevitable’