Ukraine war: Australian PM visits Kyiv, pledges more military aid

By Tiffanie TurnbullBBC News, Sydney

Image caption,

The visit to Ukraine was the first by any Australian prime minister

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged more military aid to Ukraine after visiting the war-torn nation’s capital.

The prime minister met President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv during a surprise trip on Sunday.

He earlier toured the devastated towns of Bucha and Irpin, describing what he saw as a “war crime”.

The aid package, worth 100m Australian dollars ($68m; £56m), includes drones and 34 additional armoured vehicles.

Mr Albanese also announced sanctions and travel bans on a further 16 Russian ministers and oligarchs and an end to imports of Russian gold.

He says he saw first-hand “the devastation and trauma” inflicted on Ukraine on his visit.

Thousands of Ukranians have been killed and towns destroyed since the invasion began on February 24.

The prime minister lit a candle for civilians buried in a mass grave in Bucha, where Russian forces are accused of committing atrocities.

And in Irpin he described what he saw as “devastating”.

“Here we have what [is] clearly a residential building,” Mr Albanese said.

“Another one just behind it, brutally assaulted. This is a war crime.”

In a press conference at the Presidential Palace in Kyiv, Mr Albanese said his country will support Ukraine for “as long as it takes”.

The extra aid announced brings total Australian assistance to Ukraine to about $390 million.

Australia is also considering reopening its embassy in the country, following the lead of other nations such as the UK and US.

Mr Albanese joins a long list of world leaders who have visited Ukraine since the war began.

The unannounced visit came after a week-long trip to Europe, where Mr Albanese attended a NATO summit in Madrid and met French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.

Media caption,

Watch: Ukraine’s President Zelensky receives a standing ovation in Australia’s parliament