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Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to speak to Canberra audience

Headshot of Kimberley Caines
Kimberley CainesThe West Australian
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Camera IconVolodymyr Zelenskyy Credit: BANG - Entertainment News

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will dial into Canberra for a second time this year to share his nation’s experiences of an unprovoked invasion by Russia and request more support from Australia.

The wartime leader will deliver an address to students and staff at a sold-out event at the Australian National University on Wednesday evening as his country heads into its sixth month of war.

It comes just five months after Mr Zelenskyy pleaded directly to parliamentarians in Federal Parliament in March — also via video link — for practical military equipment and new sanctions against Russia.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also made a secret trip to the capital of Kyiv last month to see first-hand the sites of Russian atrocities in the war-torn towns of Bucha, Irpin, and Hostomel.

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Mr Zelenskyy will on Wednesday take questions from university students and will be joined by WA’s Julie Bishop, who is the ANU chancellor and former foreign affairs minister, and National Security College Professor Rory Medcalf.

ANU National Security College Policy Director Dr William Stoltz told The West Australian Mr Zelensky’s address would be “historically unprecedented”.

“This is part of Zelenskyy’s very well oiled campaign of keeping the cause of his people front-and-centre in the minds of other democracies,” Dr Stoltz said.

“Given this is a war that will likely go on for a while, there is a next generation element to this, that the people he’s speaking to will have to deal with the consequences that the world experiences as a result of this conflict.”

Australia has pledge more than $100 million in military assistance and other aid to help Ukraine in its fight against Russia.

In July, the Prime Minister promised to step up sanctions against Russia and provide Ukraine with an additional 14 armoured personnel carriers, and 20 more Bushmaster vehicles and drones.

The $99.5 million top up is in addition to a previously announced $285 million in military assistance, which included 40 Bushmasters and artillery pieces and $65 million in humanitarian assistance.

Australia’s aid to Ukraine now equals about $390 million.

Dr Stoltz is urging Mr Albanese to not only provide military support but also support for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

“He’s asked for Australian industry and the Australian Government to potentially take patronage of a particular city or region in Ukraine and support that reconstruction,” he said.

“This phase is almost as important as the war for the future of Ukrainian people because if the reconstruction isn’t done properly, we will see a lot of migrants leave Ukraine for good, and we’ll see it become a more vulnerable country in the future.”

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