Australia and Ukraine: On Saturday morning, Defense Minister Richard Marles travelled to Ukraine to visit defence industrial locations and personally witness the costs and repercussions of Russia’s “unrelenting” attacks.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Marles, stated, “Australia remains committed to supporting Ukraine to resolve the conflict on its terms.”
According to a minister’s office statement, the relief package included $15 million in high-priority equipment such as battle helmets, rigid hull inflatable boats, boots, fire masks, and generators, and $30 million in unscrewed aerial systems.
“Ukraine and its people have endured more than two years of Russia’s full-scale invasion but their spirit remains strong,” the statement stated.
With the current installment, he added, Australia’s military aid to Ukraine has reached $880 million since Russia started its illegitimate invasion of the nation in 2022.
Six Howitzer artillery cannons and 120 Bushmaster armoured vehicles are among the supplies Australia has sent to Ukraine.
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According to Northwest Star, as part of Operation Kudu, Australian troops have also been instrumental in providing training to Ukrainian soldiers stationed in the United Kingdom.
The most recent pledge was made as President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged his nation’s friends to increase their backing for his beleaguered armed forces.
The US Congress recently approved a $US95 billion ($145 billion) aid package for Taiwan, Israel, and Ukraine, which includes US$13.8 billion for Ukraine to purchase armaments.
To defend Ukrainian cities, Mr. Zelenskyy claimed he needed at least seven Patriot surface-to-air missile systems.
“We urgently need Patriot systems and missiles for them,” he stated.
“This is what can and should save lives right now.”
His request was made in response to a Russian missile strike on Saturday that targeted power plants in the west and centre of Ukraine.
“Terror should always lose, and anyone who helps us stand against Russian terror is a true defender of life,” stated Zelenskyy.
While in Europe, Mr. Marles also had meetings with Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, his counterpart from Poland.
“We are very committed to supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, but we have also become much more illuminated about what is occurring in Europe,” Mr. Marles stated to reporters in Warsaw.
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“And in that sense, the relationship with Poland is put into sharp relief and we see that there is an enormous opportunity for our two countries to work together.”
Recently, a Wedgetail surveillance aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force that had been sent to Europe to aid Ukraine returned to Australia.
