Australia’s latest engagement with Ukraine is a major boost in support at a time of growing concern that the war will last much longer than the Western resolution.
The $ 100 million in Australian military supplies, including another 34 armored vehicles, seems small alongside U.S. spending, but that’s misleading. It is important when compared to the promises of some European countries much closer to the conflict.
Anthony Albanese visits the city of Irpin on the outskirts of Kyiv. Credit: AP
And there is a certain symbolic power in the decision of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to pay a personal visit to Kyiv in order to witness the destruction and stand by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Albanese follows a long line of European leaders who have visited Kyiv in recent months, but the line is not long enough. Despite all the publicity of these visits, the truth is that the Australian Prime Minister has done more than some of his European counterparts.
Yes, many leaders from all over Europe have shown their support for Ukraine with these visits. The list includes leaders from Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain, as well as the United Kingdom.
But continental Europe should be ashamed of the fact that Australia is contributing more to Ukraine than countries that are much more exposed to Russian aggression.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (center) and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (right) met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv in April. Credit: Presidential Press Office of Ukraine
When the Kiel Institute in Germany verified the commitments made since the outbreak of the war, the promises of the Australian government were worth more than those of Latvia, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Slovakia, Finland, Spain, Ireland, Austria and others. That was before the $ 100 million announced Sunday.
Thus, Australia is doing more to help Ukraine nationally than some NATO members. This is due in part to the scale of the Australian economy, which is roughly in line with that of Spain, but it is not just about relative wealth.