Vladimir Putin not ‘genuine in seeking peace’ in Ukraine after skipping talks, PM says

Anthony Albanese has hit out Vladimir Putin after the Russian skipped Ukraine peace talks.

Anthony Albanese has taken a shot at Vladimir Putin for not turning up to Ukraine peace talks that he proposed.

The Russian President was supposed to attend the talks in Turkey last week but skipped them without giving a reason.

The Prime Minister on Sunday said it showed Mr Putin was not serious about bringing an end to the three-year conflict.

Russian President Vladimir Putin skipped Ukraine peace talks that he proposed. Picture: Alexander Zemlianichenko / POOL / AFP

“We, of course, have seen recently President Putin proposed a meeting in Türkiye and then to not turn up to that meeting,” Mr Albanese told reporters in Rome.

“That says something about whether they are genuine in seeking peace.

“But certainly, (Ukrainian) President Zelenksyy reaffirmed his view that he wants to see peace, of course, in Ukraine, but he also wants to be directly involved clearly in those negotiations.

“The United States has an important role to play as well.”

Earlier, Mr Albanese vowed to consider sending Australian peacekeepers to Ukraine in a rare face-to-face meeting with the country’s president in Rome.

The Prime Minister met Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration on Sunday.

In opening remarks, the two leaders heaped praise on each other, with the Ukrainian President congratulating Mr Albanese on Labor’s landslide federal election win.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has vowed to consider sending peacekeepers to Ukraine in talks with the country’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Picture: NewsWire / Handout

Mr Albanese said he “made it clear” during the election campaign the Australian government “is very supportive of your struggle and we see your struggle as being about your national sovereignty, your right to determine your own future”.

“The Russian illegal aggression needs to be resisted and we stand with Ukraine very clearly and unequivocally,” he said.

“We have been participants in the discussions that have been convened by (British) Prime Minister Starmer and (French) President Macron.

“It’s always at strange hours in Australia, some very late night meetings that I have participated in.

“We’ve said that if a peace process emerges, we would consider being involved in a coalition of the willing.

“Until then we’ll continue to provide support.”

Австралія підтримує Україну – зараз і завжди.

Слава Україні!
__

Australia stands with Ukraine, now and always.

Slava Ukraini!@ZelenskyyUa
🇦🇺🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/krIsh0418k

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) May 18, 2025

Australia has contributed north of $1.5bn in aid to Ukraine, the bulk of which has been military support, including nearly 50 retiring M1A1 Abrams tanks.

Mr Zelensky thanked Mr Albanese for the defence assistance and for backing peacekeeping efforts.

“I think that it’s not strange we are both allies,” he said.

“I think it’s great that we have so many allies in different continents.

“Together, we can really move this situation to closer to peace, with pressure on Russia.”

Oscar Jenkins has been sentenced to 13 years in a Russian penal colony for fighting as a mercenary. Picture: NewsWire Handout

Mr Jenkins was fighting with the Ukrainian Armed Forces when he was captured. Picture: Telegram

Mr Albanese also raised the jailing of Australian fighter Oscar Jenkins.

Russian authorities in Ukraine’s occupied Luhansk region earlier this week sentenced Mr Jenkins to 13 years in a penal colony for fighting as a mercenary, complicating any prisoner swap talks.

He was serving with Ukraine’s International Legion – a formal part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine – when he was captured late last year near Makiivka, a tiny village on the Zherebets River in Luhansk.

“The Russian so-called courts have brought down an outrageous ruling, and we continue to seek his freedom and his return to Australia, and we thank you for the assistance in that,” Mr Albanese said.

In a press conference later, he told reporters that he and Mr Zelenskyy “had a discussion about not just Oscar Jenkins but other cases as well”.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has said it does not know how many Australians are in Ukraine.

Originally published as Vladimir Putin not ‘genuine in seeking peace’ in Ukraine after skipping talks, PM says