Richard Marles pledges to support Ukraine for ‘as long as it takes’

Australia has made a big pledge to Ukraine as it continues to fight back against invading Russian forces.

Richard Marles says Australia’s fresh shipment of dozens of battle tanks to Ukraine “will not be the last package” and pledges to back the country for “as long as it takes” to end the war with Russia on Kyiv’s terms.

The latest $245m aid package will hand Ukraine’s military 49 retiring M1A1 Abrams, an American-designed battle tank that forms the backbone of the US and Australian tank forces.

The Deputy Prime Minister, who also holds the Defence portfolio, said on Thursday the tanks would “significantly boost the mobile fire capability of the Ukrainian armed forces”.

“We know this will be a conflict that goes for a long time,” Mr Marles told the ABC.

“We are in there for the long haul. This will not be the last package that we provide to Ukraine … and we’ll stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes for Ukraine to resolve its conflicts on its own terms.”

Defence Minister Richard Marles has pledged to continue backing Ukraine for ‘as long as it takes’ to win the war against Russia. Picture: Handout via NewsWire

Australia is handing 49 M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks to Ukraine to help it fight back against Russia’s invading forces.

Ukrainian ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko called the package “very timely” and thanked the Albanese government, saying its “leadership has significantly contributed to Ukraine’s security and future”.

“The tanks provided by Australia are likely to be used by mechanised brigades of the ground forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) who are engaged along a 1400 long kilometre front – or the distance between Sydney and Adelaide,” he said in a statement to NewsWire.

“Ukraine’s capacity to both defend itself and to bring the war to a just conclusion is in part reliant on receiving adequate and continuous support from those nations, including Australia, who also believe in democracy, the integrity of national borders, and the international rules-based order.”

Ukrainian ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko has thanked the Albanese government and the Australian people for the fresh aid. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Marles echoed the Ukrainian ambassador’s words, saying that what happened in Ukraine had far-reaching consequences “for the world”.

“Ukraine is fighting for its own country, but in so many ways, Ukraine is really on the front line of fighting for the global rules-based order that stands in the interests of certainly Australia but countries around the world,” he said.

“We stand with the international community in terms of supporting Ukraine, and we’ll continue to do that.”

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Australia has given Kyiv some $1.3bn worth of aid to help fight back.

Canberra’s backing of Ukraine has earnt Australia a spot on Russia’s register of “unfriendly countries” – a geopolitical naughty list.

Russia’s war in Ukraine has killed and wounded hundreds of thousands on both sides and displaced more than 10 million people.

About 11,500 Ukrainians have found safe haven in Australia.