Tony Abbott redoubles support for Ukraine in fight with Putin

Ukraine has welcomed Tony Abbott, who is helping Kiev in its struggle against Russia’s president.

Tony Abbott joins Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko holding up a banner to support Nadiya Savchenko, a Ukrainian politician and Army officer who has been imprisoned in Russia since June 2014.

Tony Abbott has redoubled his support for Ukraine in its clash with Russian president Vladimir Putin, flying to Kiev over the weekend to join international advisers who are helping the country “outlive” the tensions with its powerful neighbour.

Mr Abbott was welcomed to Ukraine by its president, Petro Poroshenko, almost two years after the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 by a surface-to-air missile believed to be fired by separatists aligned with Russia.

It is an honour to be in Kiev, Ukraine as a member of President Poroshenko's International Advisory Council. pic.twitter.com/MxNmPE6GOI

— Tony Abbott (@TonyAbbottMHR) 20 March 2016

The former prime minister is standing by his strong criticism of Russia over its intervention in the Crimea and eastern Ukraine as well as its lack of co-operation in the quest for justice for the victims of the MH17 attack.

Mr Abbott sided with Ukraine early on in his leadership, rebuking Mr Putin in early 2014 at a time when European leaders were cautious not to offend Russia but others, including Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper, became more strident in their criticism.

“I mean it’s bitten off the Crimea,” Mr Abbott said of Russia in June 2014. “It’s obviously interfering in Ukraine and this should stop. This should stop. No country has a right to bully another country just because it can.”

During a ceremony in France in June 2014 to commemorate D-Day, Mr Abbott befriended Mr Poroshenko and conversed at length with him while other leaders spoke to Mr Putin.

Those ties grew even stronger when MH17 was shot down in July 2014, killing 41 Australian citizens and residents among the 298 passengers and crew. The victims included three Perth children — Mo, Evie and Otis Maslin — and their grandfather Nick Norris.

Mr Abbott helped lead the global response to the attack on MH17 by dispatching former defence force chief Angus Houston to help secure access to the crash site, recover the bodies of the victims and try to ensure an investigation that could bring the perpetrators to justice.

Mr Abbott tweeted a picture of his meeting with Mr Poroshenko and the advisers, saying: “It is an honour to be in Kiev, Ukraine as a member of President Poroshenko’s International Advisory Council.”

The former prime minister’s spokesman told The Australian he was asked to join Mr Poroshenko’s International Advisory Council last September, and that he stood by his earlier comments about Ukraine and Russia.

Mr Abbott also joined Mr Poroshenko in holding up a banner to support Nadiya Savchenko, a Ukrainian politician and Army officer who has been imprisoned in Russia since June 2014.