Bishop promises NATO Ukraine aid, Islamic State strike support

FOREIGN Minister Julie Bishop has foreshadowed new sanctions against Russia if there is no immediate peace pact in Ukraine.

AUSTRALIA is gravely concerned by Russia’s actions in Ukraine and its blatant efforts to destabilise the country and foreshadowed further serious economic and trade sanctions if there was no immediate peace pact by President Vladimir Putin.

Foreign minister Julie Bishop told NATO leaders the Ukraine crisis must be resolved as soon as possible through peaceful means, but also called for further investment in defence to strengthen global ties.

The Australian Defence Force chief Defence Force Chief Mark Binskin told The Australian yesterday that Australia would help train members of Ukrainian armed forces to help build up their professionalism and capacity on Australian soil.

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But Ms Bishop said Australia was unlikely to have any significant hands on role to stymie Russia’s aggression in Eastern Ukraine, unless there was a specific request from the Ukrainians.

Ms Bishop spoke with the Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko about Russia’s actions and later said Australia would “certainly provide assistance if needed in the humanitarian sense”, but said their had been no such call for such assistance from Australia, nor from NATO.

Ms Bishop acknowled that Mr Putin’s aggression was a key topic of formal meetings and informal corridor chat.

“The sanctions against Russia is an ongoing topic of discussion. There is consideration by a number of parties for further sanctions if there is no ceasefire or end to the conflict,” she said. “Australia will continue to review our sanctions already imposed on Russia.”

Australia is also preparing to broaden its role in the US-led fight against the Islamic State regime, a move that will be discussed with US President Barack Obama at the NATO Summit later today.

Ms Bishop said the potential development of military engagement in Syria and Iraq to support the US air strikes was justified given Australia’s “deep national interest in this matter”.

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Ms Bishop was speaking at Celtic Manor in Newport, Wales, the site of the NATO leaders summit. The manor’s golf course was dotted with fighter jets, tanks and missiles and swarming with security operatives as Australia was formally accepted as an enhanced NATO partner alongside Russia’s geographical neighbours Georgia, Sweden and Finland and one of the most critical players in Middle East diplomacy, Jordan.

“Of course we will consider it because Australia has deep national interest in this matter,’’ Ms Bishop responded to possible expansion of Australia’s current levels of engagement in the Middle East.

“We have Australian citizens fighting with ISIS in Syria and Iraq and indeed taking leadership roles in this barbaric organisation. We are concerned about those foreign fighters coming back to Australia an bringing their extremist radicalized ways back to Australia and this ideology has no place in Australia.’’

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When asked if Australia would follow the lead of British Prime Minister David Cameron to make nationals stateless when they attempted to return to the country after fighting in Syria and Iraq, Ms Bishop said such a measure would only be looked at once current anti-terror laws were passed through parliament.

‘’As you know we have a legislative package to come before the parliament and we will consider a whole range of areas where we can increase authority power and capability and we are seeking to get that through the parliament first before we consider any further measures,’’ she said.

NATO secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussen has announced a raft of supportive measures to bolster the training and support for Ukrainian soldiers, including $US15 million in financial aid in addition to bilateral finance programs from some other NATO members. The focus will be on cyber defence, logistics, command and control exercises as well as expert rehabilitation for troops injured in the conflict. High-precision weapons, both lethal and nonlethal would also be provided, President Poroshenko announced.

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Ms Bishop told NATO leaders including Mr Obama and Mr Cameron that the effects of Russian aggression had far reaching consequences, as the shooting down on Malaysian Airlines MH17, in which 298 passengers and crew were killed, has so starkly illustrated.

“We expect Russia to respect the national sovereignty of Ukraine,’’ Ms Bishop said. “From Afghanistan to the Middle East, to Eastern Europe, the world faces challenges to good order, human decency and global stability.

“We must invest more in defence, strengthen our relationships and work more closely together.”

Mr Rasmussen was cautious about a possible Ukrainian peace deal being brokered later today in Minsk.

“Russia is now fighting against Ukraine in Ukraine, Russia troops and Russian tanks are attacking Ukrainian forces and while talking about peace, Russia has not taken a single step to make it possible,” Mr Rasmussen said.

“Instead of de-escalating, Russia is deepening it. It has serious complications.’’