Australia considers aid to Ukraine, opens Kiev embassy

AUSTRALIA is stepping up action against Russia by banning uranium sales and is opening an embassy in Ukraine.

Question Time in the House of Representatives in Parliament House in Canberra. The Prime Minister Tony Abbott during Question Time in the House of Representatives in Parliament House Canberra. Pic by Gary Ramage

AUSTRALIA is stepping up action against Russia, banning uranium sales and supporting Ukrainian sovereignty by opening an embassy in Kiev, which is fighting Moscow-backed separatists.

Tony Abbott says the interim embassy in Kiev will assist nine Australian Federal Police officers who remain in Ukraine to assist with the investigation of flight MH17, allegedly shot down by Russian-supported rebels.

The government is also considering short-term support to Ukraine through aid and “nonlethal military assistance”, the Prime Minister told parliament.

It would consider a civil and military capacity build-up in Ukraine in the medium term, he said.

Mr Abbott said Australia would do whatever it could to help its friends.

“I am pleased that our flag will shortly fly alongside Ukraine’s as a sign of our support in these troubled times,” he said.

Mr Abbott said Australia would no longer sell uranium to Russia until further notice.

“Australia has no intention of selling uranium to a country which is so obviously in breach of international law as Russia currently is.”

Earlier this week Australia ramped up sanctions against Russia to match those imposed by the European Union.

This includes no new arms exports, no access by Russian state-owned banks to the Australian capital market, no new exports for the oil and gas industry, no new trade or investment in the Crimea and targeted financial sanctions and travel bans against specific individuals.

Ukraine, NATO and the United States accuse Russia of providing direct military support to separatists in eastern Ukraine.

The rebels began fighting Ukrainian government troops in mid-April, a month after Russia annexed Crimea. The war has left more than 2500 people dead and forced at least 340,000 to flee.

AAP