Ukraine President asks Albanese to visit Kyiv

The Ukrainian President invites the PM to visit the war-torn country when he is Europe later this month, as Russia blacklists 121 Australian citizens.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Picture: AFP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has invited Anthony Albanese to visit Kyiv when he is in Europe later this month.

Ukrainian ambassador Vasyl Myroschnychenko said he hoped to convey the invitation to the Prime Minister personally next week. “If there is a time to visit Ukraine, it is now,” he said.

Mr Albanese is due to travel to Madrid for a NATO summit on June 28-30, with a side trip to France to repair relations with President Emmanuel Macron.

Mr Myroschnychenko said Mr Zelensky hoped to host Mr Albanese in Kyiv, in a show of solidarity against Russian ­aggression, and for him to witness first-hand the cause of Australia’s ­energy cost woes.

“I was in Kyiv last week. I picked up a letter from my President to Mr Albanese, congratulating him on his election and inviting him to come to Ukraine,” he said. “I would like to have an opportunity to personally ­deliver it to him next week.”

The trip was raised as Moscow announced it was blacklisting 121 Australian citizens, including defence officials, businessmen and editors from media outlets including The Australian and The Sydney Morning ­Herald.

Those on the list, including Defence Force Chief General Angus Campbell and The Australian’s editor-in-chief Christopher Dore, were barred from entering Russia “indefinitely”, the foreign ministry said.

The blacklist was put together in response to “the growing sanctions of the Australian government, which apply to an increasing number of Russian citizens”, the ministry said.