Australia to support Ukraine with shells, drones

Australia will assist Ukraine by supporting programmes to provide its armed forces (AFU) with shells and drones.

This was announced by the country's Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, speaking on ABC radio station.

The deputy prime minister stressed that Canberra was keen to make its support "consistent, permanent and of practical benefit to Ukraine", but had to take into account the fact that Australia was "on the other side of the world". He also noted that Australia was already involved in the "programme to support the AFU's artillery" and several other programmes, including those designed to provide Kiev with drones.