Australia announces largest military aid package to Ukraine worth $170 mln
The Australian government announced the largest package of military assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, worth about AUD 250 million, which is equivalent to approximately $169 million.
According to the Australian government website, at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Leaders' Summit in Washington DC, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, met with Ukraine's President Volodomyr Zelenskyy alongside Indo-Pacific Four (IP4) partners, where he reaffirmed Australia's commitment to standing with Ukraine in its defence against Russia's illegal and immoral invasion.
The latest military assistance package includes: Air defence missiles; Air-to-ground weapons, including guided weapons; Anti-tank weapons; Artillery, mortar, cannon, and small arms ammunition; A shipment of boots, ensuring the men and women of Ukraine’s armed forces are able to continue their vital efforts on the front line.
"Today's announcement by the Albanese Government takes Australia's military assistance to Ukraine to more than $1.1 billion since the start of Russia's full‑scale invasion, and overall assistance to more than $1.3 billion," the report notes.
Australia will also join NATO's new security and training initiative for Ukraine as an operational partner. This is in addition to the training of Ukrainian recruits being undertaken by Australian Defence Force personnel in the United Kingdom, as part of Operation KUDU.
During his visit to Washington, the Deputy Prime Minister also joined other partners in signing the Memorandum of Understanding on the Drone Capability Coalition. This follows the Albanese Government's $30 million commitment to provide drones to Ukraine, as part of this important Coalition.