Ukraine calls for support to ‘finish the job’, as war reaches two years

Ukraine’s Ambassador to Australia has signalled Kyiv is seeking further military support from Canberra to ‘finish’ its war against Russia.

Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko visited the Health Services Union in Sydney to thank them for their support. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Swift

Ukraine ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko has signalled that Kyiv is seeking further military support from Canberra, including armoured personnel carriers and anti-drone and mine-clearing equipment, to aid its war against Russia.

As Ukraine’s battle to repel a Russian ground invasion reaches its two-year milestone on Saturday, Mr Myroshnychenko said the war was reaching its “end game” and there didn’t need to be a third anniversary of the conflict if adequate aid were provided.

He said financial and military aid from the international community including Australia had allowed Ukraine to fend off Russia’s attack so far, but its allies needed to “step up support” to enable the war-torn nation to “finish the job”.

Mr Myroshnychenko met with fellow EU ambassadors to Australia in Canberra on Friday to mark the country’s slated admission to the EU, which he said was an “important sign of solidarity” while calling for further support by providing military equipment.

Ukraine’s Ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko met with other EU nation ambassadors in Canberra on Friday. Picture: Rhiannon Down

“Armoured personnel carriers for instance, the Bushmasters, (there are) already 120 of those provided, there is a production facility here that could commission more; also drone production and anti-drone equipment, mine clearing equipment,” he said.

“There are also some quite unique defence industry companies producing useful items specifically serving as components in some other defence capabilities, so there are plenty of … weapons systems, for instance, which are produced by the US that have been very effective when mounted on Bushmasters.

“At the end of the day, by helping Ukraine, it’s not helping a charity, it’s an investment in a way because if we fail, the costs of whatever happens afterwards is going to be much, much higher.”

Mr Myroshnychenko also voiced support for Australia committing to a long-term funding agreement to support Ukraine, mirroring multi-year support packages recently announced by the EU and Japan.

“We don’t need to have the third anniversary of the Russian large-scale invasion; to defeat Putin on behalf of the West and on behalf of Australia, we need to have conclusive military capabilities to do so,” he said.

EU ambassador to Australia Gabriele Visentin backed the level of support offered by the Australian government, describing it as “continuous and exactly in line with what the EU is doing”.

He also encouraged Canberra to follow the EU, Britain and the US by imposing further sanctions on Russian officials responsible for the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in an Arctic prison last week.

The Coalition has urged Anthony Albanese to increase support to Ukraine. It has com­mend­ed the “unwavering strength” of the Ukrainian people while accusing the government of “lagging behind our allies” in support of the war effort.

Peter Dutton, foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham and defence spokesman Andrew Hastie urged Labor to donate decommissioned Taipan helicopters, reopen the embassy to Kyiv and act on requests for coal.

They also demanded the government end double taxation on Ukrainian businesses operating in Australia and commit to a long-term funding plan for Ukraine.

“Ukraine still needs our help. Australia – and all those countries who believe in law and liberty, sovereignty and security, peace and prosperity – must continue to provide that help to Ukraine,” they said in a joint statement.