Comments on the visit of the Australian Foreign Minister, Senator the Hon Penny Wong to
Ukraine and re-opening of the Australian Embassy in Kyiv
From Kateryna Argyrou, Co-Chair, Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations
The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) warmly welcomes the visit to Kyiv of Australian Foreign Minister, Senator the Hon Penny Wong. Setting foot on Ukrainian soil, spending time in the capital, having first-hand conversations with Ukrainians, is the only way to understand what is happening on the ground in Ukraine. To be in Ukraine is to feel the impact of Russia’s war.
We are grateful that the Foreign Minister becomes the third senior political leader to visit Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, following visits by the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Richard Marles. It is a strong sign of support for Ukraine and its efforts to defend against Russian aggression and lawlessness.
It is also a powerful indicator of the important consequences of Putin’s aggression for the IndoPacific region. The closer ties between North Korea, China and Russia through the provision to Russia of North Korean missiles and ammunition, Chinese dual use goods and even North Korean troops, does not bode well for security in our region. Australia’s security depends on respect for rules, norms, international law and human rights, as well as a commitment to not use force to resolve differences, so actively standing up for those values is important.
The Foreign Minister’s announcement of further desperately needed support, and the much-awaited decision to finally reopen the Australian Embassy in Kyiv in January 2025, are also greatly appreciated. These commitments show Ukrainians that Australia stands with them, understands their struggle to defend their country, and values Ukraine’s leading role in defending the rules-based global order.
Our community always believed that it was important for the Australian Embassy in Kyiv to reopen. That was why it was a key recommendation in our submission to the Senate inquiry into Australia’s support for Ukraine, and why we were pleased to see it adopted as a recommendation in the Committee’s final report. This was reinforced in our regular meetings with Federal Parliamentarians over the last three years, who reflected deep cross-party support for the Embassy’s re-opening.
Re-opening the Australian Embassy in Kyiv will serve to underpin the essential moral and material support Australia has offered since Russia commenced its full-scale invasion over 1,000 days ago. It will provide Australian diplomats and military personnel with regular contact with Ukrainian officials, which will yield valuable information and intelligence, unlocking further opportunities for further government collaboration. It will also allow better coordination and delivery of Australian aid and provide feedback on how Australian-supplied equipment is performing on the battlefield.
