Ukraine-Russia war: Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants Australia to return to Kyiv

Ukraine’s President has a simple message about what he now wants from the Albanese Government, as the G7 nations ramp up their fight against Putin.

Ukraine’s President has urged Australia to join other countries and reopen it’s embassy in the war-torn country.

Speaking at a news conference on Saturday marking one year since the Russian invasion, Volodymyr Zelenskyy was asked if he would like the Australian Ambassador to return to Kyiv.

“It’s so nice to hear a question that you can say ‘yes’ to,” he responded via a translator.

“I’ll be very happy, really. I have relations with Australia. They really helped us a lot.

“To shake hands (of) the ambassador of Australia, I’ll do it with pleasure. Please come – come back – but on (a) Bushmaster, we need one more.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants Australia to reopen its embassy in Kyiv. Picture: Getty

Alongside other countries, Australia closed its embassy in February 2022 citing the increased security risk posed by the Russian invasion.

The ambassador and other officials have been in Poland for the past year and continue to provide consular assistance and diplomatic relations.

But 67 other nations have since returned to the Ukrainian capital.

The Australian Government it coming under pressure to reopen its embassy, with opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham calling for the country to return.

“Australia should follow the lead of most nations supporting Ukraine, reopen our embassy and have our Ambassador able to engage in person,” he tweeted on Saturday.

The Ukrainian army at a basic combat training in the Lviv region, Ukraine. Picture: Getty

On Friday, the Federal Government marked the anniversary of Russia’s invasion by pledging to send $33 million of drones and impose financial sanctions against high-profile Russians.

“This support will provide a battlefield intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability to the Ukrainian Armed Forces as they continue to fight against the unwarranted aggression of Russia,” Defence Minister Richard Marles said.

Australia has committed military assistance worth more than half a billion dollars, including 90 Bushmaster armoured vehicles, artillery and ammunition.

Mr Zelensky has previously praised the Bushmaster combat vehicles, saying they’ve “really helped” on the battlefield.

“We are very grateful, these equipment have performed masterfully in real combat operations,” he said.

‘SEVERE COSTS’

The Group of Seven industrialised nations threatened embargo busters with “severe costs”.

In a joint statement, G7 leaders said: “We call on third-countries or other international actors who seek to evade or undermine our measures to cease providing material support to Russia’s war, or face severe costs.”

The G7 also vowed to slap sanctions on Russian diamond exports

Poland sent the German-made Leopard tanks to help Ukraine repel Russian troops and deliver a “clear and measurable signal of further support”, said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who was visiting Kyiv.

Soldiers stand on a Leopard 2 tanks that are being supplied to Ukraine by several European nations. Picture: AFP

Poland would send more tanks soon, Morawiecki added, and was also offering to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets, as Western allies underlined their unwavering support.

Russia, however, remained defiant, with former president Dmitry Medvedev insisting his country was ready to push its offensive “to the borders of Poland”.

Tensions were also building on Ukraine’s border with Moldova, as Moscow claimed Kyiv was plotting to invade the breakaway region of Transnistria and promised to respond. Moldova denied any threat from Ukraine.

Zelensky said he was planning to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping after the release Friday of Beijing’s 12-point position paper on the conflict, which included a call for peace talks and for respecting all territorial sovereignty.

Zelensky noted that Beijing’s paper appeared to show “there is respect for our territorial integrity, security issues”.

Originally published as Ukraine-Russia war: Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants Australia to return to Kyiv