Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address a joint sitting of Australia’s parliament on Thursday evening, 31 March, at 5:30pm AEDT.
His address will follow speeches to several governments in the past few weeks, including to the United States, the United Kingdom and members of the European Union, where President Zelenskyy has stressed the importance of maintaining pressure on Russia as result of its illegal and brutal invasion of Ukraine.
It is anticipated the President will thank Australia for the $91 million pledged in military support for Ukraine, $65 million in humanitarian aid, and 467 sanctions imposed on Putin and other individuals, including most of Russia’s banking sector and all entities responsible for Russia’s sovereign debt.
This is in addition to the announcement made yesterday by the Foreign Affairs Minister, Senator Marise Payne, that 14 Russians responsible for serious corruption, and a further 25 Russians who aided and abetted Mr Magnitsky’s abuse and death, will face asset freezes and travel bans in the first tranche of Australian Magnitsky-style listings under the Morrison Government.
‘The Australian-Ukrainian community is sincerely grateful for the support the Australian Government has and is giving Ukraine. We are glad that President Zelenskyy will have an opportunity to thank the Australian parliament for that support,’ said Mr Stefan Romaniw OAM, Co-Chair Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations.
‘But everything possible must be done to stop Russian aggression in Ukraine. The bombing and shelling of Ukrainian cities continues. Innocent civilians are still trapped in Mariupol. Millions of people are displaced within Ukraine. Defenders continue to risk their lives resisting attacks. Australia must remain committed to ensuring Ukraine has the support it needs to resist this invasion, and that Putin’s Russia pays the highest possible price for this aggression,’ he added.
To watch the proceedings LIVE, go to the Watch, Read, Listen page on the Parliament of Australia website HERE and select the House of Representatives feed
Media inquiries: Stefan Romaniw 0419 531 255
