Defence Minister Richard Marles makes $250m commitment to Ukraine
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The news: Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles will commit to an additional $250 million in military assistance for Ukraine including air-defence missiles, anti-tank weapons, mortars and cannons.
The context: Marles is in Washington DC for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese decided not to attend.
The Deputy Prime Minister will today (Washington time) meet with the other leaders of the Indo-Pacific Four — Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. He will make the $250 million commitment, which the government says is the largest single military package Canberra has given Ukraine since Russia’s invasion.
It brings Australia’s total military assistance to Ukraine to more than $1.1 billion, and overall assistance to more than $1.3 billion.
The support will include air-defence missiles, air-to-ground weapons including guided munitions, artillery, mortars and cannons.
It will also be announced that Australia will join NATO’s new security and training initiative for Ukraine as an “operational partner”, which will see Australian military personnel already working in Europe transition to the NATO-led initiative.
What they said: “Australia is proud to stand with its partners at this historic NATO Summit to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to the Government of Ukraine," Marles said.
“The delivery of highly capable air defence capabilities and air-to-ground precision munitions represents Australia’s largest single support package for Ukraine, and will make an enormous contribution to its efforts to end the conflict on its terms.
“Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine stands as an affront to international law and the rules-based order.”
The source: Defence Minister's office
