Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as the European Union seeks to boost strategic ties with Australia.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and told him “tanks on the way” as Australia continues its unwavering support during its fight against Russia.

The pair met in central Rome shortly after Pope XIV’s inauguration at St Peter’s Basilica to discuss the ongoing conflict, military support and the imprisonment of Melbourne man Oscar Jenkins.

Mr Zelensky thanked Mr Albanese for the federal government’s support of his nation and also for sending M1A1 Abrams tanks to the war-torn country as it continues to fight against Russia.

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

“Together we can really move the situation closer to peace with pressure on Russia and we are very thankful for sanctions,” he said during the meeting on Sunday afternoon (Monday AEST).

Shortly after their meeting he posted on social media site X that he spoke with Mr Albanese about the co-operation of the Coalition of the Willing which includes more than 30 countries supporting Ukraine, negotiations in Istanbul and putting pressure on Russia and trying to establish a ceasefire.

Mr Albanese told Mr Zelensky it’s crucial that they must be able to determine their own future and not have restrictions imposed on them.

“We have provided now about $1.5 billion in support, primarily military and defence support because the struggle, the courage that your people are showing is quite remarkable and your leadership,” Mr Albanese said.

Australia had previously promised Ukraine it would send tanks to them and last month it was reported that they had not left Australian shores but Mr Albanese confirmed they are now on the way.

Mr Albanese said Mr Zelensky made “no specific requests” from Mr Zelensky during the bilateral meeting.

Mr Zelensky also congratulated Mr Albanese for winning the recent federal election.

“We are supportive of you and your people and your country and we are thankful of your support and of course we offer our congratulations to you,” he said.

Today in Rome, I met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese @AlboMP. We discussed defense support for Ukraine and cooperation within the Coalition of the Willing. Our conversation also covered the negotiations in Istanbul, increasing pressure on Russia, and which… pic.twitter.com/eroAXgju8k

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 18, 2025

Mr Albanese told Mr Zelensky that during the recent election campaign his position was clear to the Australian people that the nation is fully supportive of Ukraine in the fight against Russia.

“During our campaign I made it clear that the Australian government that I lead, is very supportive of your struggle and we see your struggle about being of your national sovereignty, your right to determine your own future,” he said.

“The Russian legal aggression needs to be resisted and we stand with Ukraine very clearly and unequivocally and we also, of course, have called for peace”.

During their meeting they also spoke briefly about the sentencing for 13 years of Melbourne man Oscar Jenkins who is serving as a member of the regular armed forces of Ukraine.

He described it as an “outrageous ruling” and said Australia will continue to “seek his freedom and return to Australia and we thank you for the assistance in that” in a court in Luhansk as a mercenary after it confirmed he had been fighting for Ukraine in 2024.

Volodymyr Zelensky (C-L), Vice President of the United States JD Vance (C) and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C-R) talking during their meeting in Rome. Picture: AFP

Earlier in the day the Ukrainian president also met with US Vice President JD Vance – it was the first time the pair had met since their disastrous meeting at the White House in February.

Mr Albanese also met with the pontiff at St Peter’s Basilica on Sunday and shook hands, speaking briefly with him after the mass formalities had finished.

“It was a very warm discussion,” he said.

“He expressed warmth about Australia … I spoke to him about (how) my mother would be looking down from heaven with the biggest smile she has ever had, the fact that her son was at the inaugural mass of the pope in the Vatican”.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) and his wife Olena attending a Holy Mass for the Beginning of the Pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, in St Peter's square in The Vatican on May 18, 2025. Picture: AFP

He also met with members of his Italian family who travelled to Rome from Barletta in Italy’s Puglia region - this included his half brother Ruggiero Albanese, his wife and one of his daughters.

“That was a great privilege, they came up to Rome and it was very nice to spend a short period of time with them,” Mr Albanese said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets with Pope Leo XIV after his Inauguration. Picture: PMO

“It was wonderful to be able to catch up with them, they are very proud (of) someone who shares their name, it was a really nice moment for them”.

The Prime Minister also spoke with the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the pair have agreed they want to bolster their international relationship and have “free and fair trade”.

Great to see you in Rome, @AlboMP and congratulations on your re-election!

In uncertain times, your renewed mandate brings both continuity and fresh momentum to the EU–Australia strategic partnership.

So let’s deepen ties in trade, defence, and security. pic.twitter.com/6mmIfLfyS8

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) May 18, 2025

Ms von der Leyen told Mr Albanese she is “looking forward to a new era between Europe and Australia” and said since they last met in Brazil in 2023 the “geopolitical tensions have massively increased”.

“The good thing is Australia and Europe and reliable partners, we’re predictable, we share the same values,” she said.

“We can offer to each other stability and we’re very grateful for that and this is the reason that we do not only see you as a trading partner but we also see you as a strategic partner”.

Ms von der Leyen said she is hopeful after signing security and defence agreements with South Korea, Japan and soon the UK, she would like to do the same with Australia.

“We would be very pleased if we could develop such a security and defence partnership too, just to broaden the strategic partnership in many topics that we have in common,” she said.

Mr Albanese also had brief discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney prior to Leo’s inauguration.

Earlier in the day he met with German chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy.