‘Remember MH17’, Volodymyr Zelensky tells Australian parliament in historic address

Volodymyr Zelensky has invoked Russia’s 2014 downing of flight MH17 over his country with 38 Australians aboard, as he urged Australia to help Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has invoked Russia’s 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over his country with 38 Australians aboard, as he urged Australia to provide more military support and join “the restoration of Ukraine” when its war with Russia is over.

In an historic address to both houses of the Australian parliament by videolink on Thursday, Mr Zelensky thanked Australia for its support for his country but urged an even greater effort, calling for more sanctions and the provision of more military equipment to Ukraine’s frontline fighters, including Australian Bushmaster armoured vehicles.

Wearing his trademark khaki T-shirt and sitting in front of a Ukrainian flag, Mr Zelensky said if the Russian perpetrators of the 2014 MH17 tragedy had been held to account, “there would not be any of this terror of invasion of Ukraine in 2022”.

“The most terrible thing (is) if we don’t stop Russia now, if we don’t hold Russia accountable, then some other countries of the world who are looking forward to a similar war against their neighbours will decide that such things are possible for them as well,” he said from Ukraine. “The fate of global security is decided now.”

Scott Morrison welcomed Mr Zelensky to address the chamber as “a lion of democracy”, declaring “we stand with you, Mr President, and we do not stand with the war criminal of Moscow”.

“Mr President, the people of Australia stand with Ukraine in your fight for survival. Yes, you have our prayers, but you also have our weapons, our humanitarian aid, our sanctions against those who seek to deny your freedom, and you even have our coal. And there will be more,” the Prime Minister said.

A piece of wreckage of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in Shaktarsk in 2014. Picture: AFP

He announced a $25m package of new military support, a new 35 per cent tariff on imports from Russia and Belarus, and vowed that “when freedom prevails, Australia will help the people of Ukraine rebuild as well”.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said the Ukrainian people were “pushing back the tide of tyranny” and showing the world what “true courage is”.

“Vladimir Putin’s aggression in the name of a poisonous and nationalistic lie is abhorrent,” he said.

“Putin and the regime that enables him will be met with determination and escalating consequences if he continues to prosecute this illegal war.”

Mr Zelensky urged more sanctions against Russia “until they stop blackmailing other countries with their nuclear missiles”, including a worldwide blockade of Russian ships so “no single dollar” could go towards its war effort.

But he said Ukraine’s top priority was military support, suggesting Australia could send its legendary protected vehicles that saved hundreds of Australian lives in Afghanistan. “You have very good armoured personnel vehicles, the Bushmaster, that could help Ukraine substantially, and other pieces of equipment that could strengthen our position in terms with armaments.

“If you have an opportunity to share this with us we would be very grateful. In Ukraine they will do much more for freedom and our common security than staying parked on your land.”

Mr Zelensky said even as the conflict raged, Ukrainians were thinking about the future, and invited Australia, its companies and experts to “take cities or sectors under your auspices” to support their restoration. “I would like to invite and welcome your country to have a look at our southern regions, our Azov and the Black Sea shore, the development of such ports and cities like the city of Kherson, which is now fighting for its freedom,” he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky salutes the Australian parliament after his historic videolink address on Thursday. Picture: Adam Taylor

The President said the rebuilding of Ukraine’s naval sector and the provision of naval training, would also be “a big contribution” Australia could make.

Mr Zelensky received a standing ovation from MPs of both houses at the conclusion of his speech.

Australia’s additional support, including tactical decoys, unmanned aerial and unmanned ground systems, rations and medical supplies, brings the nation’s total military assistance to the country to $116m. Australia has also provided $65m in humanitarian assistance and 70,000 tonnes of thermal coal to meet Ukraine’s energy needs, as well as temporary protection visas for displaced Ukrainians.

The tariff rise will come into effect from April 25, when Russian oil and other energy imports will also be banned. Australia has so far imposed sanctions on more than 500 Russian individuals and entities, in co-ordination with Western allies.

“We must continue to impose the maximum costs against Russia through targeted sanctions on individuals and entities, including President Putin and his circle of oligarchs and propagandists, military commanders and members of parliament,” Mr Morrison said.

Earlier, Britain’s top cyber spy, GCHQ director Sir Jeremy Fleming, said the world faced a period of “generational upheaval” as a result of Russia’s Ukraine invasion and the ongoing rise of China.

Sir Jeremy told the ANU’s National Security College that it looked increasingly like Mr Putin had “massively misjudged” the resistance of the Ukrainian people and the strength of the coalition his invasion would galvanise.

Mr Putin had also overestimated the abilities of his military to secure a rapid victory, Sir Jeremy said.

“We’ve seen Russian soldiers – short of weapons and morale – refusing to carry out orders, sabotaging their own equipment and even accidentally shooting down their own aircraft,” he said. “And, even though we believe Putin’s advisers are afraid to tell him the truth, what’s going on and the extent of these misjudgments must be crystal clear to the regime.”