Australia will provide Ukraine additional armoured vehicles.

Australia (Reuters) – According to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday, the Australian government would provide Ukraine a fresh A$110 million ($73.5 million) package that includes 70 military vehicles to help the country stave off an invasion by Russia.

With the new promises, Australia has contributed a total of A$790 million to Ukraine since the crisis started in February 2022, including A$610 million in military assistance.

During a media event in Canberra, Albanese said, “This additional support will make a real difference, helping the Ukrainian people who continue to show great courage in the face of Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and immoral war.”

He said that the weekend’s events in Russia, when heavily-armed Russian mercenaries temporarily overthrew President Vladimir Putin’s rule by seizing control of the city of Rostov, were not the cause of the shipment.

No, Albanese said, “We have been working on this idea for some time with a view to bringing it before cabinet this morning.

Australia has been contributing assistance, ammunition, and defensive equipment, notably a significant number of Bushmaster armoured vehicles, and is one of the major non-NATO providers to the West’s support for Ukraine. Bauxite and other alumina and aluminium ore shipments to Russia have been prohibited, and around 1,000 Russian people and organisations have received sanctions.

Albanese said that Australia would also prolong duty-free access for products imported from Ukraine for a further year in order to support the country’s economy and commerce.

28 M113 armoured vehicles, 14 special operations vehicles, 28 medium trucks, and 14 trailers will be part of the most recent military aid delivery.

The Australian High Court’s decision to reject Russia’s appeal to stop the federal government from seizing ownership of property leased to construct a new embassy close to Canberra’s parliament building was applauded by Albanese, the minister for foreign affairs.

He said, “We anticipate the Russian Federation will comply with the court’s verdict.

On June 15, Australia terminated the lease with Russia for the construction of a new embassy, claiming national security, attracting condemnation from Moscow, which said that Canberra’s action demonstrated its anti-Russian mentality.