Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a key meeting in Rome today, reinforcing Australia’s commitment to Ukraine’s defence against russia’s ongoing invasion.
PM Albanese confirmed that M1A1 Abrams tanks are en route to Ukraine, delivering a vital boost to Kyiv’s battlefield capabilities. The leaders also spoke about deepening defence collaboration through the Coalition of the Willing and tightening international pressure on russia.
The case of Australian citizen Oscar Jenkins — sentenced to 13 years in a russian maximum-security prison on Friday after being captured while fighting for Ukraine in December — was also raised during the talks.
Mr Albanese noted Australia continued to seek Oscar’s “freedom and his return to Australia, and we thank you for the assistance in that”, suggesting Ukraine may be open to securing his release through an upcoming prisoner swap.
President Zelenskyy thanked Australia for the sanctions already imposed on over 1,400 russian individuals and organisations, but urged for further action: “It’s crucial to maintain and increase pressure on russia. Sanctions are one of the key tools to move closer to peace.”
PM Albanese expressed a willingness to expand Australia’s efforts: “We’ll continue exploring every option available to hold russia accountable,” he said.
Amid rising global tensions, both leaders emphasised the importance of strengthening strategic ties between Australia and Europe — defending democratic values and promoting global security that ultimately safeguards peace in our own region.
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