Anthony Albanese to discuss Ukraine peace with world leaders

The PM will discuss the potential deployment of Australian peacekeepers with pro-Kyiv nations as he accuses Peter Dutton of walking away from ­bipartisan support for the war-torn nation.

Anthony Albanese and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in Kyiv in 2022. Picture: AFP

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Anthony Albanese will discuss the potential deployment of Australian peacekeepers to Ukraine with pro-Kyiv nations on Saturday as he accuses Peter Dutton of walking away from Australia’s ­bipartisan support for the war-torn nation.

The Prime Minister will join European leaders together with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Saturday night talks organised by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Defying Donald Trump’s attacks on Ukrainian President ­Volodymyr Zelensky and his willingness to take the word of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, Mr Albanese declared: “We don’t have to think very hard about which side we’re on in this conflict. Russia is the aggressor.”

The Prime Minister has told Sir Keir he will “consider” providing troops for a proposed “coalition of the willing” peace­keeping force in a move the Opposition Leader has branded as “unbelievable”.

Mr Albanese declined on Friday to pre-empt the outcome of the talks, which will include French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

“In order to have a peacekeeping mission, you need to have a peace,” he said.

Weeks after Mr Trump branded Mr Zelensky a “dictator”, Mr Albanese declared his full support for Ukraine and lauded the “bravery and courage” of its leader, who will address the weekend talks.

“Russia invaded a sovereign nation, in Ukraine, and has committed atrocities against civilians, against civilian infrastructure as well,” the Prime Minister said.

“This can end tomorrow if Vladimir Putin ends this illegal and immoral invasion and goes back to his own borders. That’s what we firmly believe should happen.”

Mr Albanese said Australia’s support for Ukraine had been a ­bipartisan position but “it appears that Mr Dutton has walked away from that – that’s a decision for him. But we stand with Ukraine and we stand against and remain committed to opposing the actions of Vladimir Putin”.

Mr Dutton said the Coalition had supported Ukraine from the day of Russia’s “evil invasion”, but dismissed the Prime Minister’s consideration of a troop deployment as a “thought bubble”.

“We should continue to support Ukraine, but not with troops on the ground,” he said. “Our priority is our country, and my priority as prime minister and Andrew Hastie’s priority as defence minister would be to invest in our defence forces and to make sure that we can keep our country safe in a very uncertain world.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Picture: AP

Former prime minister Scott Morrison said Mr Trump’s efforts to end the war were “very unorthodox” but ultimately motivated by an end to bloodshed.

“And what is the objective? It’s actually to get both parties to the table,” he said. “I commend President Zelensky for the way he’s got on board with this. Now it’s President Putin’s turn, and if he’s not coming to the table, I would expect you would see President Trump actually starting to use other levers, as he was already threatening before, with economic sanctioning.”

The debate came as Putin questioned a US-brokered ceasefire plan agreed to by Ukraine, demanding tough conditions and concessions from Kyiv.

“The idea itself is the right one, and we definitely support it,” Mr Putin said ahead of a meeting with Trump envoy Steve Witkoff.

“But there are questions that we need to discuss, and I think that we need to talk them through with our American colleagues and partners.”

He indicated his conditions included limits on Ukraine’s ability to mobilise troops and import weaponry during a ceasefire – restrictions that would put Kyiv at a deeper disadvantage if the fighting restarted.

Putin said he might “have a call with President Trump and talk it over with him”. Mr Trump responded, saying he would “love to meet” with the Russian leader.

Mr Zelensky said Putin’s response to the ceasefire was “very predictable, very manipulative”.

“Putin is afraid to tell President Trump directly that he wants to continue this war,” he said.