Ukraine

Mr GEORGANAS (Adelaide) (18:33): I move:

That this House:

(1) notes that 24 August 2025 marks three and a half years since Russia's illegal, immoral and unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine;

(2) reaffirms Australia's continued support for Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity;

(3) condemns Russia's:

(a) attacks on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity since Ukraine gained independence in 1991;

(b) backing of separatist militias in the Donbas;

(c) illegal attempted annexation of Crimea; and

(d) full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as well as its interference in Ukraine's domestic politics;

(4) supports:

(a) the Government's:

(i) efforts since the full-scale invasion to provide military, humanitarian, energy, reconstruction and recovery assistance to Ukraine; and

(ii) measures that impose costs on Russia for its violations of international law, including trade sanctions and targeted financial sanctions; and

(b) Australia's continued calls on Russia to fulfil its obligations under international humanitarian law and end its illegal invasion of Ukraine; and

(5) endorses the Government's commitment to continue to support a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.

I'll just start off by saying Friday 24 February 2022 was a very dark day in human history. On this day, just over 3½ years ago, the world witnessed in dismay the full-scale, unlawful, illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia. What we saw that day—and it's been going on for 3½ years now—was the illegal invasion of a sovereign nation by brute force. On that day, the lives of 40 million Ukrainians changed forever. The invasion has been a catastrophe for many thousands of Ukrainians. We've seen these scenes on our televisions every day for the last 3½ years. In fact, only this weekend and last week we saw the bombardment and missiles attacking Kyiv once again. The invasion has been absolute catastrophe the Ukrainian people. We see it on our televisions every day.

On 24 August I was proud to join the Ukrainian community in my electorate for an independence day event at the Ukraine community centre. I'd like to start by congratulating His Excellency Vasyl Myroshnychenko, Ukraine's Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand. Ms Kateryna Argyrou, the Chair of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations, was there. I'd like to pay tribute to Mr Frank Fursenko, the President of the Association of Ukrainians in South Australia. His leadership and the leadership of the ambassador and Kateryna Argyrou in the local community during this terrifying time has been truly inspirational. The message I'd like to convey to my parliamentary colleagues here is that our support of Ukraine is truly appreciated. I heard that loud and clear.

Australia has provided more than $1.5 billion in support, including $1.3 billion in military assistance—making us the largest non-NATO contributor of military assistance to Ukraine—and more than $85 million in humanitarian assistance. In August Australia deployed Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail aircraft to Europe, with up to 150 ADF personnel under Operation Kudu, to help protect a vital international gateway for humanitarian and military assistance into Ukraine. We continue to work closely with Ukraine to provide them with the support they need.

Australia has imposed a comprehensive and strict suite of over 1,500 sanctions and trade measures against Russia. These measures ensure Russia pays a heavy price for its illegal invasion of Ukraine, including by denying it access to Australia's markets and ensuring Australia does not inadvertently fund Russia's war machine. Most recently, the government has imposed another two waves of targeted financial sanctions on 44 individuals and entities across several of Russia's critical industries, as well as targeted sanctions on 60 shadow fleet vessels to help starve the Russian war economy of oil revenue. This is in addition to other measures that restrict the import, purchase and transport of oil coming from or originating in Russia.

Mr Putin needs to show that he is serious about peace. The attacks over the weekend that we saw on our TVs show that he is not serious about peace. Recently I went to the Ukrainian community, and they were absolutely grateful for the support Australia is giving. We need this war to stop. We must not relent on this. Giving way to Putin and Russia is giving way to bullies in this world. It sends a strong message to the rest of the world—people and nations that perhaps do not abide by the international rule of law—that they too can get away with it if we back off. Ukraine needs our support. It needs the support of every free nation and democratically elected nation around the world to ensure that the Russians retreat and leave the Ukrainians their own sovereign nation to determine their future.

As I said, Australia will continue to support a just, lasting, comprehensive peace for Ukraine, and security and stability in Europe. Australia and Ukraine continue to stand shoulder to shoulder as we seek a world where, regardless of size or power, no country dominates and no country is dominated.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Dr Haines ): Is the motion seconded?

Mr Repacholi: I second the motion and reserve my right to speak.

Mr NEUMANN (Blair) (18:44): I want to thank my good friend the member for Adelaide for this motion. I want to acknowledge his longstanding support for the people of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Australian community in his electorate and across the country.

Just over a week ago, on 24 August, we marked the 34th anniversary of the Ukrainian declaration of independence. It was wonderful to see the Ukrainian community sharing the occasion, with independence day events around Australia, many of which were attended by MPs and senators, including in Brisbane. At the same time, it was a bittersweet moment and a poignant reminder of the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people in the face of Russia's illegal, immoral and unprovoked full-scale invasion of their country.

I want to take this opportunity to reiterate Australia's strong and steadfast support for Ukraine and its people, not just because it's in Australia's national interest but because it's the right thing to do. What happens in the Euro-Atlantic region has serious implications for our region, the Indo Pacific, and vice-versa. In my capacity as Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, I have met the Ukrainian ambassador, His Excellency Vasyl Myroshnychenko, a number of times, and I've conveyed that message to him directly.

Make no mistake: this is a David and Goliath struggle not just for the people of Ukraine but for their national sovereignty and existence. This is a monumental struggle for international rule of law and the global rules based order, and it is a just war on the part of Ukraine. It's clear that President Putin's regime has imperialistic designs for Ukraine and beyond. We must ensure that Russia's illegal and immoral actions are not rewarded through any peace process. Australia supports all meaningful progress towards a just and enduring peace in Ukraine for broader security in Europe, but pressure will need to be applied to Russia to engage in good faith.

Australia will continue to work on delivering concrete actions to support Ukraine now and into the future. We are always open to considering any new proposal to support Ukraine, as we've done in the past according to our capacity and based on our comparative strengths. We have provided more than $1.5 billion in support, including $1.3 billion in military assistance and through vital equipment and training of Ukrainian forces—making us the largest non-NATO contributor of military assistance to Ukraine—and more than $85 million in humanitarian assistance. As part of this, we transferred the first tranche of Australian gifted M1A1 Abrams tanks in July, in response to a request from Ukraine.

The Australian Defence Force also continues to contribute to multinational efforts to train Ukrainian military personnel under Operation Kudu. I met with ADF personnel based in southern England who are training with Ukrainian citizen soldiers as a part of Operation Interflex, and I spoke with Ukrainian translators and Ukrainian troops. I did this as part of a parliamentary delegation to the UK in 2023. The ADF personnel who were there are committed, like the Australian public, to training thousands of these Ukrainian citizen soldiers. We have, in fact, trained about 3,000 of their soldiers. Australia is open to working with other countries, as we've done in that effort and operation. Australia will consider any further request to contribute to future peacekeeping efforts in support of a just and lasting peace, which we all want for Ukraine. We have, as a country, a proud tradition of supporting peace through 80 years of contributions to international peacekeeping missions.

Of course, peacekeeping missions, by definition, require a precondition of peace, and that's why we support all meaningful progress towards a just and enduring peace in Ukraine for the broader security of Europe. The future of Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine. At the end of the day, a lasting peace should uphold Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, support security and stability in Europe and ensure that Russia does not renew its aggression. To that end, we welcome the United States recently convening the meeting with President Zelenskyy and the European leaders to work towards a peace deal that ends Russia's illegal and immoral war and safeguards security and stability. Now it's up to President Putin. He needs to show he's serious. So far, he hasn't. We will continue to support a just, lasting and comprehensive peace for Ukraine, on its terms, and security and stability in Europe.