Australia Engages in Paris Discussions on Ukraine Security
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Synopsis
Air Vice Marshal Di Turton will represent Australia at a Paris meeting led by President Macron to discuss support for Ukraine amidst security assurance concerns and reactions from Russia.
Key Takeaways
- Australia is represented by Air Vice Marshal Di Turton in Paris talks.
- French President Emmanuel Macron leads discussions on Ukraine support.
- The Russian Embassy warns Australia against joining a proposed coalition.
- Foreign Minister Penny Wong asserts Australia won't be intimidated.
- Prime Minister Albanese considers peacekeeping involvement.
Canberra, March 11 (NationPress) Air Vice Marshal Di Turton is set to represent Australia at a meeting convened by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris later today to address support for Ukraine.
Macron is hosting military leaders from 30 European and NATO nations to deliberate on security guarantees for Ukraine, amid hopes for a ceasefire agreement.
In a related development, the Russian Embassy in Canberra issued a warning on Monday about potential "grave consequences" if Australia aligns with a "coalition of the willing" suggested by the United Kingdom and France to secure Ukraine's safety in the context of a peace arrangement, something Prime Minister Anthony Albanese mentioned he might contemplate.
In a statement provided to The Sydney Morning Herald, the Russian embassy remarked, "For Australia, aligning with the so-called coalition of the willing would lead to serious repercussions."
They added, "Once again, the presence of Western forces on the ground is unacceptable for Russia, and we will not remain passive observers. To those who might interpret this as a threat: it is not; it is a warning. Russia has no desire to harm Australians, and Canberra can easily evade trouble by simply avoiding reckless actions in the area of the special military operation."
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong responded firmly to this statement, asserting that the Albanese administration "won't be intimidated."
Wong emphasized that Australia boasts "a proud tradition of supporting peace through 80 years of contributions to international peacekeeping missions," while noting that no such mission currently exists and no decisions have been finalized.
"Our message to Russia is clear: cease your unlawful invasion of Ukraine. We will not be dissuaded from striving for a just peace for the Ukrainian people," she declared on Monday.
Previously, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese indicated that Australia is "open to consideration" regarding its participation in any peacekeeping efforts in Ukraine.
Albanese's willingness to consider joining a mission has sparked a bipartisan debate, with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, who is vying for the Prime Minister position in the upcoming elections, arguing that Europeans should take more responsibility and that Australia should prioritize its regional interests, as reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
