Deputy PM Marles slams Dutton for ‘politicising’ Ukraine after Albanese’s troops pledge

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has slammed Peter Dutton for “politicising” plans to potentially send Australian peacekeepers to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.

The Opposition leader accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of “shooting from the hip” following the pledge to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer late last week.

He urged the PM to “make informed judgments on what’s in the country’s best interest” and described the prospect of Aussie boots on the ground as “unbelievable”.

Asked about the swipe, Mr Marles said support for Ukraine enjoyed bipartisan support and that any request for peacekeepers would be given “due consideration”.

“What has surprised me is that Peter Dutton has sought to politicise this in a way which really beggars belief,” Mr Marles told the ABC.

“All we’re saying we’ll do is give due consideration to the kind of requests ... for that support, which we’ve thought has enjoyed bipartisan support.

“And yet Peter Dutton, on the eve of an election, is out there trying to politicise this, which is genuinely concerning.

“Anybody who thinks that national interest can be compromised in the face of seeking votes, or what seems to be popular, frankly, is not fit to govern.

“It is really important that we stay the course here and that means that we provide our support to Ukraine.”

Support for Ukraine has gained renewed focus following the disastrous meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelensky.

Mr Trump had accused Mr Zelensky of “gambling with world war three” and not being interested in peace talks with Russia after its 2022 full-scale invasion.

Mr Starmer has since rallied support both in Europe and abroad for a “coalition of the willing” to support Ukraine in the event of a peace deal with Russia.

Mr Albanese said Australia would participate in a meeting of the Chiefs of Defence in Paris on Tuesday, but that it was too early to say what Australia’s contribution would be.

“Both of our nations are very clear about our support for Ukraine and it of course is too early — you can’t have peacekeeping forces without having peace,” he said.

“But I certainly have said, very clearly, publicly, repeatedly, that we would give consideration to participating in any peacekeeping mission in the Ukraine.”

Some of those sentiments were echoed by Mr Dutton in his criticism of the PM’s pledge, stating that “there’s no peace yet” and so “no peace to keep”.

“It’s unbelievable the PM’s talking about moving troops from Australia to … Ukraine when Italy, Germany, France has made no decision yet to base troops there,” he said.

Mr Dutton described Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on its second anniversary last year as “illegal, immoral, and abominable” and a “cruel reality of history hit home”.

“Within two months of Russia’s invasion, the former Coalition Government delivered a comprehensive $285 million package of support for Ukraine,” he said.

“The Coalition has given bipartisan support to every announcement made subsequent to Australia’s change in government.”