Australian PM to Participate in Global Leaders' Call on Peacekeepers
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Synopsis
On March 14, Australian PM Anthony Albanese is set to engage in a phone call with global leaders to discuss the deployment of peacekeepers to Ukraine, organized by UK PM Keir Starmer. The call includes leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Canada, New Zealand, and Ukrainian President Zelensky.
Key Takeaways
- PM Albanese joins a global call on peacekeepers.
- Discussion includes leaders from several nations.
- Opposition leader Dutton opposes troop deployment.
- Russian Embassy warns of consequences for Australia.
- Foreign Minister Wong insists on a just peace for Ukraine.
Canberra, March 14 (NationPress) Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will participate in a 'Coalition of the Willing' phone conference with several global leaders on Saturday to deliberate the potential deployment of peacekeepers to Ukraine. This conference is being organized by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and will also feature the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Canada, and New Zealand, along with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Reports from state-run media, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, indicate that Albanese is amenable to evaluating a request for sending Australian forces as part of a peacekeeping contingent.
During a press briefing on Friday, Opposition Leader and Prime Ministerial hopeful for the upcoming elections in Australia, Peter Dutton, stated that Australia should refrain from involvement, accusing PM Albanese of 'shooting from the hip'.
"It just doesn't make any sense. Our duty is to protect our nation and ensure our safety in the region. We have supported Ukraine from the very beginning. However, not with troops on the ground. This was merely a fleeting idea by the Prime Minister," Dutton remarked, as reported by ABC.
Previously, Australia dispatched its top defense official, Air Vice Marshal Di Turton, to a meeting convened by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Tuesday to discuss support for Ukraine. Macron had gathered military leaders from 30 European and NATO nations to deliberate on security assurances for Ukraine, following hopes for a ceasefire agreement. Macron has partnered with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to spearhead efforts to create a 'coalition of the willing' to enforce a future ceasefire in Ukraine.
In the meantime, the Russian Embassy in Canberra warned on Monday of 'grave consequences' should Australia join the 'coalition of the willing' proposed by the United Kingdom and France to ensure Ukraine's security in the event of a peace accord, a prospect PM Anthony Albanese has expressed willingness to consider.
"For Australia, joining the so-called coalition of the willing would entail grave consequences," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted a statement from the Russian Embassy.
"Once again, Western boots on the ground are unacceptable for Russia, and we will not remain passive observers. To those inclined to interpret this as a threat: it is not; it is a warning. Russia has no intention to harm Australians, and Canberra can easily avoid trouble by simply refraining from irresponsible adventurism in the area of the special military operation," the statement continued.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong responded strongly to the statement, asserting that the Albanese government 'won't be intimidated'.
"Our message to Russia is: end your illegal invasion of Ukraine. We won't be intimidated from striving for a just peace for the people of Ukraine," she emphasized.
