Giving Ukraine 49 tanks is a defence of democracy

The Albanese government’s decision to donate 49 Abrams battle tanks to Ukraine signals to the beleaguered Ukrainian people that their defence of democracy is backed by Australia. And it adds to the vital firepower they need to deny any enduring success for what our government correctly calls Russia’s “illegal and immoral invasion”.

But providing the tanks, as with all such aid, also demonstrates that the Ukrainians are being left to do the dying in defending democracy and upholding the rule of law between nations. They are taking huge combat casualties – 480,000 in a country of just 35 million – to do it.

This is not to diminish the moral worth of sending the tanks. It adds to the $1bn-plus in ammunition and equipment already transferred, notably 120 Bushmasters, the Australian-designed and built troop carrier. And it goes some way to making amends for the refusal to supply Ukraine with Taipan helicopters that our defence forces took out of service after a fatal accident but that Ukraine desperately needs. Being in a struggle for national survival elevates an appetite for risk. That same motivation will apply to the tanks, which are obsolete for Australian purposes and are being replaced with new US equipment.

Ukraine, however, needs everything it can acquire. The Australian armour will join German Leopard and British Challenger tanks in its line of battle. There also are Abrams tanks from the US in service. Such a grab-bag of kit is not logistically great but Ukraine needs it all. The Abrams will fight on ground well suited to tanks, at least in summer – the recent Ukrainian offensive was near Kursk, where in 1943 Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union fought the largest armoured battle.

But while armour is indispensable to Ukraine to protect advancing troops and stop enemy attacks, there is little chance the extra firepower will make a decisive difference. Battlefield drones, deployed in tens of thousands and which can identify and destroy tanks, ensure that.

For Ukraine to have the tools to finish the job and force Russia to end the invasion and accept the country’s territorial autonomy, the US and the European members of NATO need to expand the volume and lethality of weapons they provide and end restrictions on Ukraine increasing attacks on targets in Russia.

For now, the US and its allies are providing enough support to stop Russia succeeding on the battlefield but not enough to convince President Vladimir Putin to scrape together a face-saving deal and take his army home. The grim reality for the people of Ukraine is that their struggle to survive as a democracy is being used by the US as a low-cost warning to China, Iran and lesser imps of evil, such as North Korea, not to invade their neighbours.

The fact Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has to travel the free world pleading for the ammunition needed to hold the frontlines is outrageous. The fact the arsenals of the US and European allies were so empty earlier this year that his calls were not met is alarming. The Israelis understand this and are defending themselves rather than relying on US support, which always comes with qualifications.

The Albanese government has taken a principled stand in support of Ukraine and must keep the materiel moving. But it also must stiffen its resolve and speak out against authoritarian regimes indifferent to human rights and life in the Middle East and eastern Europe.

The world is watching and waiting to see Ukraine’s fate. Should it be defeated or win a Pyrrhic victory, dictators would be encouraged to start new wars. Common decency dictates Australia continues to support Ukraine in words and more equipment. So does realpolitik.