‘Just wrong’: Dutton hits out at Trump over Ukraine
Asked if he approved of Trump’s comments on Thursday, Albanese told reporters in Whyalla: “I speak for Australia’s interests and Australia stands with Ukraine in their struggle, which is a struggle not just for their own national sovereignty but it is a struggle to stand up for the international rule of law.”
Asked whether he believed Zelensky was a dictator, Defence Minister Richard Marles told Sky News: “Well, no, but I’m also not about to engage in a running commentary of president Trump’s remarks.
He continued: “The aggressor here is Russia.
“They were the ones who illegally crossed into Ukraine, who invaded Ukraine. That is why we are supporting Ukraine. We see that what’s at stake here is the global rules-based order. We will continue to support Ukraine.”
Labor MPs privately said the government was extremely wary of directly criticising Trump over any issue as it seeks to negotiate exemptions for Australia from steel and aluminium tariffs.
Kateryna Argyrou, co-chair of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations, said the Albanese government needed to provide leadership and “add its voice in support of Ukraine”.
“Australia has been a strong ally and friend to Ukraine, and for that we will be forever grateful,” Argyrou said. “This is not the time to stay silent.”
Argyrou said Trump’s comments were “shocking and appalling”, adding that “Trump appears to be captured by Russian propaganda, which is a very dangerous situation for Ukraine.”
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Former prime minister Tony Abbott, who is now a director of Fox Corp, said Trump was “living in fantasy land” over Ukraine, and that the nation needed NATO membership or troops on the ground as a condition of any ceasefire.
“Obviously we want peace, but it can’t just be a surrender to vicious, naked aggression, it can’t be,” he told Time Radio in London. “The basis for peace has got to be that Ukraine can live in independence and security going forward.”
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