Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia has urged the Greens to rethink their opposition to military aid for Ukraine, warning that the party’s position could assist Vladimir Putin’s invasion.
Vasyl Myroshnychenko’s intervention came after new Greens leader David Shoebridge said the party did not support Australia sending weapons or other military equipment to the Ukrainian army. The peak body representing the Ukrainian-Australian community is seeking an urgent meeting with Mr Shoebridge to discuss its concerns.
Mr Shoebridge said Australia should not provide direct military assistance unless such transfers were authorised by the United Nations Security Council. Russia, as a permanent member, would be expected to veto any such move.
Mr Myroshnychenko said the Greens were entitled to hold their own views, but argued that their stance failed to distinguish between different types of conflict.
“I cannot believe, then, that the Greens actively seek an outcome where President Putin’s policies are imposed on Ukrainian society, we lose the social freedoms and equalities Australians enjoy, and our entire nation is swallowed up by Russia,” he said.
He added that the Greens’ position “does not appear to distinguish between offensive wars of choice, aggression and territorial expansion versus wars of desperate defence and national survival”.
Labor and the Coalition have also criticised the Greens’ opposition to military assistance, accusing the left-wing party of adopting a naive position that would help the Russian president.
