Australia should reopen its embassy in Ukraine and set up a “one-stop-shop” to ensure aid is managed efficiently, a parliamentary inquiry says.
As Russia’s invasion reaches 1000 days, a report tabled in parliament on Tuesday recommended the foreign affairs department re-open Australia’s embassy in Kyiv — inclusive of an Australian military attache.
The call has cross-party support, with the Defence Subcommittee including senior Labor MPs, in addition to parliamentarians from the Coalition and crossbench.
Strengthening ties
Defence Subcommittee chair Brendan O’Connor said there is a “strong case” for reopening the embassy.
“A physical diplomatic presence would strengthen our bilateral ties with Ukraine and align us with the 70 other nations that have reopened their embassies,” he said.
The inquiry found Defence, alongside the Department of Foreign Affairs, should set up a dedicated “one-stop-shop” to streamline Australia’s support of Ukraine and ensure its efficiency.
More transparency needed
The Albanese government was strongly criticised after disused MRH-90 Taipan helicopters were dismantled and buried, rather than donated to Ukraine.
The report says that the Department of Defence should also publish a summary of its decision-making processes to foster trust among the public.
Brendan O’Connor also said a “Ukraine lens” needed to be applied to the decision-making process around the retirement of equipment from military service.
Ukrainian ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko said military aid and support from the West, including Australia, had been vital for Kyiv’s ability to repel Russia’s invasion.
“It has been essential for us and vital to make sure we can defend ourselves,” he said.
He added that in Ukraine showed how the war impacted the Indo-Pacific security dynamics.
As such, any military aid for Ukraine was “an investment in deterrence, it’s not charity,” he said.
Call for more Australian military equipment
Australia most recently donated Abrams tanks that were due to be replaced by a newer model, with military aid for Ukraine surpassing $1 billion since the start of Russia’s invasion.
Vasyl Myroshnychenko hopes for their expedited delivery before the European summer and is calling on Australia to donate any further decommissioned equipment, specifically Tiger helicopters.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong issued her support in a post on social media marking “1000 days of pain and tragedy (and) 1000 days of courage and determination by Ukrainians as they fight for freedom”.
Opposition foreign affairs spokesperson Simon Birmingham said that the Ukrainian people had endured the war “with unmistakeable courage and unmatched resilience”.
More than 2400 children have been killed or injured since the start of the conflict, with UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell describing the toll on children as “staggering and unacceptable”.
