Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed his participation in a call with leaders from the Western world, organised by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, set for tomorrow night. While the outcomes of the conference remain uncertain, Albanese expressed eagerness to reconnect with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other democratic leaders.
“I won’t pre-empt the results of the meeting, but Australia has consistently supported Ukraine from the outset,” he stated. The discussion will also include leaders such as France’s Emmanuel Macron, New Zealand’s Christopher Luxon, Canada’s new Prime Minister Mark Carney, as well as representatives from Germany and Italy. This meeting follows Starmer’s recent proposition to deploy British troops in Ukraine to uphold any eventual peace agreement with Russia—a suggestion that prompted Albanese to consider requests for Australian involvement in a potential peacekeeping coalition.
Albanese labelled the war as “illegal” and “immoral” and attributed its escalation to a “Russian authoritarian dictator” with expansionist ambitions in Ukraine and the surrounding region. He reiterated that the conflict represents a fight for Ukraine’s national sovereignty and the enforcement of international law, underscoring the broad support from democratic nations.
Although the conversation may lead to discussions around peacekeeping operations, no official commitments have been made. Albanese highlighted, “We don’t currently have peace, hence there is no peacekeeping agreement.” Starmer has endeavoured to foster a united European response to the war and aims to create a peace plan to present to the United States.
On the opposition front, Peter Dutton, Leader of the Liberal Party, dismissed the idea of sending Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel to Ukraine, calling it a “thought bubble.” He declared ongoing support for Ukraine but opposed military presence on the ground. In response, Albanese defended their stance, stating, “We remain committed to opposing Vladimir Putin’s actions and will continue to stand with Ukraine.”
The upcoming conference signifies an important step as world leaders convene to address the ongoing issues stemming from the conflict, highlighting the global commitment to seeking a resolution.