Talk of Australian peacekeepers in Ukraine ‘welcome’, ambassador says

Talk of Australian peacekeepers in Ukraine is “welcome”, the country’s envoy in Canberra says amid crumbling US support for global security.

Anthony Albanese on Tuesday said he was “open” to discussing sending to troops as part of a possible peacekeeping mission in Ukraine led by the UK and France.

His British counterpart Keir Starmer said he was looking to involve non-European countries, including Australia, in a coalition to guarantee Ukraine’s security if a peace deal with Russia eventuated.

Ukrainian ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko said on Wednesday “America is changing its role in the world and it’s up to the world to step up for democracy”.

“Ukraine is doing that, and we are grateful for Australia’s increased willingness to do so,” he told the ABC.

Mr Myroshnychenko said Kyiv wanted “peace more than anybody else” and it was “ready for negotiations”.

But he added that any negotiations needed to involve Ukraine, Europe and the US.

“We have to force Russia into peace,” Mr Myroshnychenko said.

“And of course, the contribution from the US in terms of military equipment has been the biggest one in the world.”

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement overnight his White House clash with Donald Trump was “regrettable” and it was “time to make things right” after the US President paused military aid.

The two leaders were meant to ink a deal granting the US access to hundreds of billions of dollars worth of critical minerals in Ukraine, but the stoush derailed their meeting.

Mr Zelenskyy said he would sign “at any time and in any convenient format”.

“We see this agreement as a step toward greater security and solid security guarantees, and I truly hope it will work effectively,” he said.

Mr Myroshnychenko said he was “optimistic” Mr Zelensky and Mr Trump could “mend their relationship”, pointing to the Ukrainian President’s willingness to sign the minerals agreement and negotiate a peace deal.

But he stressed that Ukraine needed security guarantees, and they in turn needed a “clear mechanism of how they could be enforced”.

“We need to deter any future Russian aggression because Russians need time to resupply or regroup and mount another attack four years from now,” Mr Myroshnychenko said.

“And we need to have rock-solid guarantees to have a sustainable, just and comprehensive peace.

US President Donald Trump has ordered a pause on all US military aid to Ukraine, just days after his heated showdown with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Asked if he thought Australian troops would have a role in warding off a Russian reinvasion, he said: “I welcome the statement from the Prime Minister that he doesn’t rule it out, and Australia may consider that.”

Mr Myroshnychenko said Ukraine valued Canberra’s $1.5bn in aid, crediting Australian-made Bushmasters armoured vehicles with saving “many lives”.

“So we really appreciate their contributions from Australia, and I think this is what is making us stronger together, because the assault of Russia on Ukraine is not only on Ukraine, it’s on liberal democracies,” he said.

“And we now have to be together to defend the democracy, to defend human rights, to defend rule of law, because if we get into the world of a jungle where might is right, it will be very difficult for everybody, including Australia.

“So we believe it’s in a strategic national interest for Australia to continue supporting us because it’s not really a charity – it’s an investment into your own security.”