Russia Slams Albanese’s ‘Irresponsible Adventurism’ Over Peacekeepers
Russia has warned the Albanese government against “irresponsible adventurism” by deploying Australian peacekeepers to Ukraine, saying foreign troops are unacceptable.
A spokeswoman for Foreign Minister Penny Wong hit back at the Russian embassy’s statement on Monday night, declaring Australia would not be bullied:
“Australia has a proud tradition of supporting peace through eighty years of contributions to international peacekeeping missions,” Wong’s spokeswoman said.
“Russia has no intention to harm Australians, and Canberra can easily avoid trouble by simply refraining from irresponsible adventurism in the zone of the special military operation.” – Russian Embassy in Canberra.
Ukrainian firefighters work in Kharkiv following a Russian rocket attack on Friday. Russia has unleashed a furious bombardment at critical Ukrainian infrastructure, after the US decided to withhold intelligence assistance.
Russia has warned the Albanese government against “irresponsible adventurism” by deploying Australian peacekeepers to Ukraine, saying foreign troops are unacceptable.
But Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Australia will not be bullied by Russia.
With Vladimir Putin escalating his campaign against Ukraine following Donald Trump’s shock withdrawal of US military aid and intelligence to force Kyiv into peace talks after three years of bloody and grinding warfare, other Western countries are looking to step in to ensure any ceasefire agreement can be maintained.
A spokeswoman for Foreign Minister Penny Wong hit back at the Russian embassy’s statement on Monday night, declaring Australia would not be bullied.
“Australia has a proud tradition of supporting peace through eighty years of contributions to international peacekeeping missions,” Wong’s spokeswoman said.
“Such a mission does not yet exist in Ukraine, where Russia continues its brutal and unjustified war.
“Our message to Russia is: end your illegal invasion of Ukraine. We won’t be intimidated from working towards a just peace for the people of Ukraine.”
Prime Anthony Albanese has indicated he would consider sending Australian troops, should a request come, opening a divide with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton who says there should be no Australian boots on the ground.
Australia’s military attache to NATO, Air Vice Marshal Di Turton will represent Australia at a meeting in Paris on Monday (Tuesday AEDT) convened by French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss further military support that can be provided to Ukraine in light of America’s abandonment of a fellow democracy, amid wider doubts over the future of America’s role as the guarantor of European security.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who spoke to Albanese on the weekend, has pushed for the peacekeeping force, describing it as a “coalition of the willing”. Not all European nations are on board, such as Italy.
In a statement first published by The Sydney Morning Herald and later posted to its social media accounts, the Russian embassy lashed Australia’s preparedness to consider a troop commitment.
“For Australia joining the so-called coalition of the willing would entail grave consequences,” the statement said.
“Once again, Western boots on the ground are unacceptable for Russia, and we will not remain passive observers. To those inclined to construe the above as a threat: it is not, it is a warning.
“Russia has no intention to harm Australians, and Canberra can easily avoid trouble by simply refraining from irresponsible adventurism in the zone of the special military operation.”
The reference to special military operation is what Russia calls its invasion of Ukraine, which has cost hundreds of thousands of lives and allowed Russia to occupy about 20 per cent of Ukraine’s territory.
The embassy statement made no reference to Russia’s role as the aggressor, but lambasted the Morrison and Albanese government for supplying $1.5 billion in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, saying this was sending soldiers to an “endless and pointless slaughter”.
“At the same time, official propaganda convinces local taxpayers that these immeasurable costs are needed in order to ‘make Russia pay a high price’,” the statement said.
Putin has been emboldened by Trump’s public feuding with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with the United Nations saying Friday was one of the deadliest days of the war, with 21 people killed and 81 injured in airstrikes.
Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia was participating in planning sessions on eventual scenarios but reiterated that currently there was no peace to keep.
He accused Dutton of trying to politicise defence by ruling out Australian peacekeepers.
“They have been apparently supportive of giving assistance to Ukraine over a long period of time, and yet now, in the eve of an election, they’re taking every moment they can to politicise every issue that they can in relation to Defence,” Marles told the ABC.
“And frankly, I think this is an extraordinary position for the leader of the opposition to take. I mean, all we are saying is that if a request comes, we’ll give it the due consideration that we’ve given every request in respect of assistance to Ukraine.
“Bearing in mind we have Australian service personnel in Britain right now providing training to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.”
Original source: https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/russia-slams-albanese-s-irresponsible-adventurism-over-peacekeepers-20250310-p5lii2
