The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky stated today in the Australian Parliament that new and tougher sanctions against Russia are needed to increase the pressure on it in connection with its invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reports.
Australia has supplied defense equipment and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, and has banned the export of aluminum and aluminum ores, including bauxite, to Russia.
Earlier today, Australia also imposed tariffs on 35 percent of all goods exported by Russia and Belarus as part of increasing pressure on Russia.
Australia has imposed sanctions on 443 Russians, including businessmen close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. As well as 33 law firms, including most of Russia’s banking sector and companies responsible for Russia’s sovereign debt, according to Reuters.
Australia has included Russian President Vladimir Putin in its list of sanctions, reminds TASS. The agency added that a number of Belarusian citizens and companies were also subject to sanctions, including President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.
In front of Australian deputies, Zelensky also demanded the supply of Australian Bushmeister armored personnel carriers, TARS adds.
“Ukraine must have everything it needs on the battlefield. For example, you have excellent Bushmaster armored personnel carriers, which can provide significant assistance to Ukraine,” Zelensky said.
“I invite your beautiful country to our coastal areas, to our Black and Azov coasts to renovate our ports,” he added. The President of Ukraine stressed that the revival of the maritime industry in Ukraine could be a personal contribution of Australia to stability.
For his part, the Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison in his introductory speech on Zelensky’s statement that the Australian government will provide Ukraine with another $ 25 million in military aid, according to AFP. Assistance will be provided in the form of “defense military equipment”, such as radars, medicines and food.
“Australia supports Ukraine against Russia,” Morrison said, recalling that the country had provided $ 91 million in military aid, $ 65 million in humanitarian aid and 70,000 tons of thermal coal used for energy production. He assured that his country continues to work with partners to force Russia to pay the maximum price for its actions in Ukraine through targeted sanctions against individuals and legal entities, a ban on energy, oil or gas products, a ban on aluminum and bauxite exports.