Canberra: Australia’s Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, has made it clear that the country "won't be intimidated" by Russia’s warnings regarding potential Australian involvement in a peacekeeping force in Ukraine.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently indicated that Australia was open to considering participation in Ukraine's peace keeping mission, a stance that has sparked debate at home.
In response, the Russian embassy in Canberra issued a strong statement cautioning Australia against joining a proposed "coalition of the willing," an initiative backed by the UK and France to ensure Ukraine’s security following a peace deal. The embassy warned of "grave consequences" if Western troops were deployed, emphasizing that Russia would not tolerate such a move.
Responding to Russian statement, Australian foreign minister, Wong reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to international peacekeeping efforts, she stressed that no formal request had been made and no final decision reached.
"Our message to Russia is clear: end your illegal invasion of Ukraine. We won’t be intimidated in our pursuit of a just peace for Ukraine," Wong stated.
To further discussions on supporting Ukraine, the government has sent Air Vice-Marshal Di Turton to attend a meeting in Paris. If established, a peacekeeping force would act as a security guarantor for Ukraine in the event that Russia failed to honor a US-brokered peace agreement.
However, Albanese’s openness to the idea has exposed political divisions. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has argued that European nations should take greater responsibility, suggesting that Australia should prioritize its own regional security needs.
The Russian embassy described peacekeeping efforts as a façade designed to "undermine peace," asserting that Australia was siding with war. "To those who see this as a threat: it is not. It is a warning. Russia has no intention of harming Australians, but Canberra should avoid reckless adventurism," the statement read.
Labor MP Amanda Rishworth dismissed Russia’s response as an overreaction and an attempt to "bully" Australia, while Coalition frontbencher Bridget McKenzie criticized Albanese for raising the possibility of peacekeeping involvement when "there is no peace," calling his approach "reckless" and "inexperienced."
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Saudi Arabia for discussions with US officials following tensions with US President Donald Trump. Although US military aid to Ukraine has been put on hold, White House official Steve Witkoff suggested that recent developments had been "very positive" on Ukraine’s part, despite ongoing challenges in negotiations with Russia.
