Australia supports Ukraine regardless of relationship with US, Russia: Premier

By Saadet Gokce

ISTANBUL (AA) – Australia will stand with Ukraine regardless of its relationship with the US and Russia, said the Australian premier, according to local media Wednesday.

“Australia's position is unequivocal. It's the same as it was last week and last month,” said Australian Premier Anthony Albanese on Monday during a Q+A (question and answer session) with ABC News.

Albanese stated that Australia gave $1.5 billion in support of Ukraine due to understanding “it is a struggle for democracy and the international rule of law, and the implications that are there if Russia is able to get away with essentially an unlawful invasion of a sovereign nation, there for global politics.”

The premier said that the US would defend Australia due to Canberra and Washington’s ANZUS agreement and being allies.

The Australia, New Zealand, and United States Security Treaty (ANZUS or ANZUS Treaty) is a collective security agreement signed in 1951.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong, alongside Albanese and Defense Minister Richard Marles, also gave a joint statement supporting Ukraine on Monday, the third anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war, while announcing sanctions.

Albanese had reiterated Canberra’s support for Kyiv last Thursday after US President Donald Trump called Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator.”