PM: Australia open to peacekeeping role in Ukraine

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stated that Australia is willing to consider any requests to contribute to peacekeeping efforts in Ukraine, as the country continues to support international efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict.

The prime minister's comments come after his participation in an international summit, where leaders discussed the war in Ukraine and potential ceasefire agreements, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

Albanese emphasised Australia’s readiness to help facilitate peace in the region. 

"Australia is open to considering any requests to contribute to a future peacekeeping effort in support of the just and lasting peace we all want for Ukraine," Albanese said in a statement. "Australia is always open to considering any new proposals to support Ukraine – which we do so based on our capacity and comparative strengths." The summit, which was held virtually, was led by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, alongside 30 leaders from Europe, Canada, New Zealand, and officials from NATO and the European Union.

During the meeting, leaders urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to commit to a ceasefire agreement to bring an end to the three-year war. The discussions followed a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, which Zelenskyy has backed. While Putin has indicated support for a truce in principle, he has outlined several conditions that need clarification before agreeing to any ceasefire. During the summit, Albanese reiterated Australia's strong and unwavering support for Ukraine, stressing that Australia would stand with Ukraine "for as long as it takes." "This is a struggle not just for the people of Ukraine and their national sovereignty. This is a struggle for the international rule of law," the Australian prime minister stated. 

He added, "President Putin's regime has imperialist designs, for Ukraine and beyond. We must ensure Russia's illegal and immoral actions are not rewarded through any peace process." Albanese also noted that while Australia supports any meaningful progress toward a just and lasting peace, pressure will need to be exerted on Russia to engage in good faith negotiations. "We have a proud tradition of supporting peace through eighty years of contributions to international peacekeeping missions. Of course, peacekeeping missions by definition require a precondition of peace," he said. To date, Australia has committed $1.5 billion in aid to Ukraine, with $1.3 billion of that funding directed toward military support, including essential equipment and training for Ukrainian forces.

By Naila Huseynova