Albanese visited Bucha, Hostomel and Irpin, three towns in the Kiev region that became synonymous with the brutality of Vladimir Putin’s invasion when evidence of mass killings and torture emerged after Russian forces withdrew. Kyiv Region Governor Oleksii Kuleba announced the visit on Facebook, saying Albanese was shocked by what he saw, including bombed-out homes, traces of mines and a destroyed airport. Photos posted on Kuleba’s Facebook page showed Albanese and others walking past an apartment building with bombed-out windows and standing in what appeared to be a dilapidated aircraft hangar. Speaking later at a press conference in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Albanese said Australia would give Ukraine 14 more armored personnel carriers and 20 Bushmaster vehicles. It also announced a ban on Russian gold imports, as well as sanctions and travel bans on 16 more Russian ministers and oligarchs, bringing the total number of Russians sanctioned by Australia to 843. Albanese called Russia’s invasion a “flagrant violation of international law.” “I saw firsthand the devastation and trauma it has caused the people of Ukraine,” the prime minister said in a statement after his visit. “My visit to Kyiv and recent visits by other world leaders send a clear message that democratic nations like Australia will stand by the Ukrainian people in their time of need.” Albanese pledged $99.5 million in military aid and $8.7 million to help Ukraine upgrade its border management equipment, cyber security and border operations in the field. Australia also plans to intervene in the International Court of Justice to support Ukraine in its case against Russia. Anthony Albanese greets Volodymyr Zelensky before their meeting in Kyiv. Photo: SER/AFP/Getty Images Albanese made a one-day visit to Ukraine at the end of his European trip for the NATO summit. The Australian government had kept the trip under tight security for security reasons, with only a small group of journalists allowed to travel with him to Ukraine and a media blackout imposed on Australian media until he left the country. However, international media and Ukrainian officials reported details of the trip earlier, before Albanese’s office issued a statement about the 6.30am. AEST on Monday. Albanese said the new contributions brought Australia’s total military aid to Ukraine to about A$388 million. “I sincerely thank President Zelenskyy, the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Australian Defense Force for ensuring the safety of my visit,” Albanese said. “President Zelensky’s leadership has rallied the Ukrainian people to defend their country and inspired the world to support humanity and freedom. The road ahead is difficult, but I am confident that Ukraine will prevail.” Zelensky said Australia was providing Ukraine with “significant assistance, particularly defense support” and that Ukrainian forces “highly valued” the Bushmaster vehicle. Albanese – the first Australian prime minister to visit Ukraine – follows in the footsteps of other Western leaders including Boris Johnson, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz and Mario Draghi in going to the war-torn country. The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, also visited. According to the Associated Press, Albanese described the destruction in Irpin as devastating. “These are homes and these are livelihoods and indeed lives that have been lost here in this city,” he said. The trip comes days after Australia’s deputy prime minister and defense minister, Richard Marles, said the country was looking at new ways to support Ukraine. Canberra had already pledged A$285m (£161m) in aid to Kyiv, including Bushmaster armored vehicles, M777 howitzers, ammunition and anti-tank weapons. The first four of 14 M113AS4 armored personnel carriers were sent to Ukraine last month. Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, called for more Bushmasters for Ukraine, but also praised Australia’s support. “Australia is punching above its weight,” he told Sky News last week. “There is a tradition in Australia of standing up to bullying behavior and Prime Minister Albanese understands that very well.” The Labor leader made the stop after meeting Macron in Paris to mend relations following a furious row when former Australian prime minister Scott Morrison abruptly scrapped a long-running multibillion-dollar submarine deal last year in favor of a UK deal -USA. Albanese also attended the NATO summit in Madrid last week, along with other non-member Indo-Pacific leaders, including New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and South Korean President Yun Suk-yeol. In Madrid, Albanese described the war in Ukraine as a “humanitarian tragedy” and “a challenge to the global norms on which our security and prosperity are based.” He said: “Russia’s brutal invasion is causing serious economic disruption that is being felt around the world, including in Australia. Although we are far away geographically, Australians are paying Putin’s gas prices. We pay more for food and household goods because global supply chains have been disrupted by its illegal and unwarranted invasion.”
