War in Ukraine: Marise Payne ramps up Russia sanctions

Australia has joined G7 leaders in increasing the pressure on Russia, announcing a further 67 sanctions to try to break Vladimir Putin’s war machine.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne in Brussels on Thursday. Picture: AFP

Australia has joined G7 leaders in increasing the pressure on Russia, announcing a further 67 sanctions to try to break Vladimir Putin’s war machine.

Arriving at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Thursday, Ukraine Foreign Minister ­Dmytro Kuleba said he had a very simple agenda: “It has only three items on it. Its weapons, weapons, and weapons.

“I call on all allies to put aside their hesitations, their reluctance, to provide Ukraine with everything it needs.”

Mr Kuleba said there was no distinction between offensive and defensive weapons, as any weapons would be used to defend Ukraine. He said any country making the distinction was being hypocritical. When pressed about the type of weapons, he listed planes, missiles, armoured vehicles and heavy air defence systems.

The Ukraine prosecutors ­office said it was investigating 4820 cases of war crimes carried out by Russia, after uncovering more cases of civilian deaths in towns north of Kyiv.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said on her arrival at NATO headquarters that it was a critical time for Europe, the world and the Indo-Pacific.

Australia is not a NATO member, but is an “enhanced partner” of the NATO Strategic Alliance in the Indo-Pacific.

Senator Payne said Australia was working with the US and others for the strongest possible response to Russia’s aggression and its “wholesale breaking of international law”.

Included in the list of Australia’s 67 new sanctions were asset freezes on Russian military official Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev, the “Butcher of Mariupol”, for attacks including the bombing of the Mariupol theatre, the Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko, Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov and the deputy chairman of the Russian State Duma, Aleksander Babakov.

Australia has also listed the Kremlin-installed so-called “mayor” of Melitopol, Ukrainian Galina Danilchenko, and a member of the Ukrainian parliament, Oleg Voloshyn, who has been working with Russia to undermine the Ukrainian government.

British Foreign Minister Liz Truss announced a complete ban on all Russian energy exports – gas as well as oil – putting pressure on Germany and Hungary, to fast track their own energy bans. The UK has vowed that by the end of 2022, the country will end all dependency on Russian coal and oil, and end imports of gas as soon as possible.

As well, the UK applied ­immediate bans on the export of key oil refining equipment and catalysts to degrade Russia’s ability to produce and export oil, and the ban of imports of iron and steel products. Britain is also banning all new outward investment to Russia.