Ukraine’s President has urged Australia to join other countries and reopen it’s embassy in the war-torn country.
Speaking at a news conference on Saturday marking one year since the Russian invasion, Volodymyr Zelensky was asked if he would like the Australian Ambassador to return to Kyiv.
“It’s so nice to hear a question that you can say ‘yes’ to,” he responded via a translator.
“I’ll be very happy, really. I have relations with Australia. They really helped us a lot.
“To shake hands (of) the ambassador of Australia, I’ll do it with pleasure. Please come – come back – but on (a) Bushmaster, we need one more.”
Alongside other countries, Australia closed its embassy in February 2022 citing the increased security risk posed by the Russian invasion.
The ambassador and other officials have been in Poland for the past year and continue to provide consular assistance and diplomatic relations.
But 67 other nations have since returned to the Ukrainian capital.
The Australian Government it coming under pressure to reopen its embassy, with opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham calling for the country to return.
“Australia should follow the lead of most nations supporting Ukraine, reopen our embassy and have our Ambassador able to engage in person,” he tweeted on Saturday.
On Friday, the Federal Government marked the anniversary of Russia’s invasion by pledging to send $33 million of drones and impose financial sanctions against high-profile Russians.
“This support will provide a battlefield intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability to the Ukrainian Armed Forces as they continue to fight against the unwarranted aggression of Russia,” Defence Minister Richard Marles said.
Australia has committed military assistance worth more than half a billion dollars, including 90 Bushmaster armoured vehicles, artillery and ammunition.
Mr Zelensky has previously praised the Bushmaster combat vehicles, saying they’ve “really helped” on the battlefield.
“We are very grateful, these equipment have performed masterfully in real combat operations,” he said.
