Australia will ‘turn the screws’ on Russia as Vladimir Putin threatens nuclear conflict

Australia will continue to “turn the screws” on Vladimir Putin after he issued a chilling nuclear threat as the Russian invasion continues.

Australia will continue to “turn the screws” on Vladimir Putin, as Europe seeks to re-arm amid escalating concerns the conflict could turn nuclear.

The Russian President has ordered its military’s nuclear deterrence forces on high alert, with multiple European countries now offering weapons to Ukraine.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia would send “lethal aid”, as Mr Putin raised the threat of the war turning nuclear in response to what he called “aggressive statements” by NATO countries.

In a statement on Monday, Mr Morrison and other key ministers announced a US$3 million pledge to NATO’s Trust Fund for Ukraine to support nonlethal military equipment and medical supplies.

Details of how much Australia will spend on lethal support are still being worked out.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says Australia will continue to ‘turn the screws’ on Russia. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said Australia was working closely with its allies to punish Russia as the world seeks to de-escalate the conflict.

“We are not going to stop here. Just as Putin’s actions in Ukraine are not stopping here,” Mr Frydenberg told the Nine Network.

He said the Russian president needed a message from the international community that his actions were unacceptable.

“What he has done has breached the norms and the values that have helped keep Europe prosperous and peaceful for the last 70 years, since the end of the Second World War,” Mr Frydenberg said.

“This is the single biggest threat that we have seen in decades to peace and stability across Europe.”

Mr Frydenberg said Australia would spend millions of dollars sending money to NATO to provide Ukraine with weapons.

He spoke with US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen on Sunday night.

“We agreed to continue to work closely in turning the screws on Vladimir Putin and his associates,” Mr Frydenberg said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce have both made moves to condemn Russia. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce told Channel 7 that Mr Putin’s nuclear threat was “very disturbing”.

“To even suggest it is on the cards is dynamite. We hope that he is just using provocative language and he has no intention of backing it up,” Mr Joyce said.

“The Ukrainians are certainly holding out and this is the issue. He thought it would be over in a couple of days and it is not. It will draw on … The Ukrainians may be able to keep fighting it out for 10 years.

“The smartest thing for Mr Putin to do is to stop.

“The fact hat he has managed to get Europe to talk about rearming … this has been a foolish and dangerous and disastrous thing to do on every front, including on human lives.”

As of Monday morning, Australia has sanctions imposed on 350 Russian individuals and a number of key industries and banks.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison attended a vigil at St Andrews Ukrainian Church in Sydney on Sunday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

In a statement on Monday morning, Mr Morrison and other key ministers said targeted financial sanctions and travel bans came into effect, with Mr Putin and permanent members of his Security Council targeted.

“Australia will continue to work with allies and like-minded countries to impose further economic sanctions on Russia, building on the raft of travel bans and asset freezes implemented in recent days,” the statement said.

Sanctions have also been extended to 13 Belarusian individuals, amid mounting concerns Belarus could join forces with Russia.