Australia to reopen Kyiv embassy in January
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The news: Australia will reopen its Kyiv embassy next month, nearly three years after closing it during the early days of Russia’s invasion.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced the decision during her visit to Ukraine, marking the first trip to Kyiv by an Australian minister since July 2022.
Ambassador Paul Lehmann and his staff will return after operating from Poland.
The numbers: Wong pledged $66 million to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, $10 million to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund and $80,000 to a charity aiding Ukrainian families.
Reaffirming Australia’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, Wong said the war in Ukraine mattered to Australia because it had global implications, threatening Europe’s security and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Critics, including the opposition foreign affairs spokesperson senator Simon Birmingham, had said the delay made Australia an international outlier. During a visit in August, Birmingham said the coalition would safely reopen the embassy if it was returned to government at the next election.
What they said: “The Albanese Government has always said we would reopen our Embassy in Kyiv when it is safe to do so. I was pleased to announce we are reopening the Embassy,” Wong said in a statement after her visit.
“From next month, Australia’s Ambassador as well as our Deputy Head of Mission will return to Kyiv.”
“Australia has unequivocally condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and provided more than $1.5 billion in assistance to Ukraine since the full-scale conflict began in February 2022,” Wong added.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said: “We deeply appreciate the embassy reopening … as the ambassador can get information first-hand, and more direct communication.” He also described it as “a show of solidarity with Ukraine”.
“Australian people understand the hardships suffered by the Ukrainian people and we welcome deeper bilateral relations,” he added.
The sources: Foreign Minister statement, ABC
