Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia will back Ukraine "for as long as it takes". (AAP Image: Dean Lewins)
In short:
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said it is in "Australia's national interest" to stand with Ukraine following a virtual summit hosted by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Sir Keir urged about 25 world leaders to sign up to a "coalition of the willing" to protect Ukraine and increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to accept a ceasefire.
The call builds on a flurry of diplomacy between European and other Western countries to find ways to help Ukraine after US President Donald Trump up-ended Washington's supportive approach and launched peace talks with Russia.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said it is in "Australia's national interest" to stand with Ukraine following a virtual meeting with other world leaders designed to drum up support for ceasefire discussions.
Mr Albanese joined a call with European and Commonwealth allies on Saturday night, hosted by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Sir Keir urged the 25 world leaders, including Mr Albanese, to sign up to a "coalition of the willing" to protect Ukraine and increase pressure on Russia to accept a ceasefire.
Britain and France both say they would be willing to send peacekeepers to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire, while Mr Albanese has said his government is open to requests.
But speaking to journalists on Sunday, the prime minister noted that any peacekeeping arrangement could not happen until Russia agreed to a ceasefire, because "you need peace to have a peacekeeping force".Â
Asked about what that could look like, Mr Albanese said Australia would only provide a "small contribution" if a decision to send troops was made.Â
"Australia stands with Ukraine, and we will continue to do so for as long as it takes," he said following the meeting.
Mr Albanese said Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime has "imperialist designs for Ukraine and beyond", labelling the conflict "a struggle for the international rule of law".
"We must ensure Russia's illegal and immoral actions are not rewarded through any peace process," Mr Albanese added.
British PM Keir Starmer held a virtual meeting with around 25 world leaders. (Reuters: Leon Neal)
Opposition Deputy Leader Sussan Ley on Sunday reiterated the Coalition's stance that while it would stand with Ukraine "against the illegal and immortal invasion", peacekeeping forces on the ground were better handled by Europe.Â
Meanwhile, Greens leader Adam Bandt told ABC's Insiders that while it was the party's preference not to put Australian troops in harm's way, it would ultimately depend on the request that was made and what peace agreement had been struck.Â
UK pushes for peace deal
Sir Keir told leaders at the summit that Mr Putin will "sooner or later" have to "come to the table".
"But, and this is a big but, for us this morning in our meeting, we can't sit back and simply wait for that to happen," he said.
"We have to keep pushing ahead, pushing forward, and preparing for peace — and a peace that will be secure and that will last."
He said the countries' defence chiefs were set to meet in the UK this coming Thursday to firm up "robust plans" to support Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.
"President Trump has offered Putin the way forward to a lasting peace. Now we must make this a reality," he said.
The call builds on a flurry of diplomacy between European and other Western countries to find ways to help Ukraine after US President Donald Trump up-ended Washington's supportive approach and launched direct talks with Russia.
Trump has no time for sentimental 'mateship' and neither should Australia
Photo shows President Donald Trump speaks on the phone with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
The United States was not on the video call on Saturday night.
Sir Keir said plans for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia must involve the cooperation of the US, after being asked whether he was still seeking a security "backstop" from Washington.
He has previously said he is open to the idea of Britain sending peacekeepers to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire deal, but the US must offer a fallback security guarantee — a measure he believes is essential to deter Mr Putin from attacking again.
"The position on the US hasn't changed. I've been clear that it needs to be done in conjunction with the United States … We are talking to the US on a daily basis," Sir Keir said in a press conference on Saturday.
Mr Trump said there was a "very good chance" the war could come to an end after his envoy, Steve Witkoff, held a lengthy meeting with Mr Putin in Moscow that the US president described as "very good and productive".
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who also joined the meeting, said he sees "a good chance" to end the war, having "solid security understandings" with European partners.
He has previously said he has discussed future security guarantees with Kyiv's allies, adding that 100 per cent air defence cover would be required as deterrence in any peace deal.
On Thursday, Mr Putin said Russia supported a US proposal for a ceasefire in principle but that fighting could not be paused until a number of conditions were met.
He has previously said he wants Ukraine to drop its ambitions to join NATO, Russia to control the entirety of the four Ukrainian regions it has claimed as its own, and the size of the Ukrainian army to be limited — demands rejected by Kyiv.
Mr Zelenskyy has said the issue of territory is "complicated" and should be discussed after a ceasefire is in place. He has also said Kyiv will never recognise occupied territory as Russian.
ABC/Reuters