The Ukrainian community, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Australia, the Australian Government and the Coalition have all strongly rejected the Greens’ refusal to support military assistance for Ukraine.
Kateryna Argyrou, chair of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) said today in the The Sydney Morning Herald / The Age:
“Senator Shoebridge’s refusal to support military assistance for Ukraine effectively asks Ukraine to defend itself with words, while Russia wages a war of aggression with missiles and drones.”
The Greens want UN Security Council approval for military aid, where russia holds a veto. That hands the aggressor a veto over its victim’s defence.
Instead, the Greens’ point to sanctions, including closing the loophole that lets russian blood oil into Australia. We support tougher sanctions too, including closing the loophole, but sanctions and military aid are not mutually exclusive. Ukraine needs both.
“Refusing military support in the name of ‘peace and non-violence’ is deeply painful to the Ukrainian families who live with this reality every day…Peace is not achieved by refusing to help the victim – it is achieved by stopping the aggressor,” said Kateryna.
We thank Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko for his powerful advocacy, and Minister Pat Conroy MP and Senator James Paterson for their bipartisan support for Ukraine.
The Ukrainian-Australian voice has been heard. Seven out of ten Australians support military aid to Ukraine, and our community is deeply grateful for that steadfast solidarity.
Make your voice heard. You can write to Senator David Shoebridge, Leader of the Australian Greens: senator.shoebridge@aph.gov.au. Please share why military assistance matters to you and your family.
Read the full story: https://afuo.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Shameful-Repugnant.pdf
