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- Went around the world: Ukraine is desperately looking for additional sources of arms supplies
Went around the world: Ukraine is desperately looking for additional sources of arms supplies
Kiev has requested hundreds of units of military equipment and financial assistance from Australia, Izvestia found out. Canberra has not announced new military aid packages to Ukraine for a year. Experts attribute this to Australia's weak military potential and the focus of its policy on East Asia. Meanwhile, Zelensky visited Greece, Spain, France and Turkey, where he tried to get drones, air defense systems, ammunition and aviation. Analysts believe that this is how Kiev is trying to compensate for losses due to the threat of cuts in aid from the European Union, which is in search of the right funds. At the same time, Ukraine's efforts run counter to Washington's efforts to work out a peace agreement.
What kind of equipment is Ukraine requesting from Australia
Amid setbacks on the battlefield, Kiev is seeking to increase supplies of Western weapons, which are necessary to hold the front. Difficulties also arose with sponsors: The United States no longer wants to supply Ukraine for free, and the EU is feverishly looking for funds to continue military support. In addition, the government of the Czech Republic, which until recently was one of Ukraine's most consistent allies, is changing. The winner of the recent parliamentary elections, Andrei Babish, is not in the mood to spend public funds on the purchase of shells for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
M113 armored personnel carrier
Therefore, Kiev is looking for new sources of weapons. The country's authorities have requested additional military equipment from Australia — 200 Bushmaster armored personnel carriers, 240 M113 armored personnel carriers and Hokai light armored vehicles, the Russian Embassy in Canberra told Izvestia. By the way, Australia has not announced new aid packages to Ukraine for more than a year.
"This clearly does not suit Ukrainians in the person of the local ambassador Vasyl Miroshnichenko, who, having lost patience, attacked the Australian government at the end of October and began with renewed vigor to beg for additional military equipment and equipment," the Russian diplomatic mission said.
The Ukrainian diplomat did not hesitate to reproach the Australians for "not sharing, profiting from the conflict," saying that Canberra is economically benefiting from a sharp rise in commodity prices and, accordingly, "morally obliged to allocate Kiev a share of the multibillion—dollar additional revenues."
— So far, Canberra has not announced any official decisions in this regard. We are closely monitoring whether Australia will go along with the Ukrainian envoy," the Russian diplomats said.
M1 Abrams
The total amount of Australian support hovered at just over $1 billion. Canberra had previously transferred 49 Abrams tanks to Kiev, but not all of them have arrived in Ukraine yet. The media also reported on the transfer of M777 howitzers, MAN 40M trucks, and M113 armored personnel carriers to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Australia's involvement in the confiscation of Russian assets
Australia is fixated on strengthening its position in East Asia, and the issue of Ukraine is a rather distant issue that simply does not feel like an important topic in Australian politics. Canberra also does not have the necessary military potential — it has very limited armed forces and a cautious foreign policy, Dmitry Mosyakov, head of the Center for Southeast Asia, Australia and Oceania at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told Izvestia.
— Relations with China and East Asian issues occupy 99% of Australian foreign policy. The maximum that Australia can give Ukraine is humanitarian aid and support for Western actions and positions," the expert noted.
So far, it has not been possible to involve Australia in the plan for the confiscation of Russian assets, which is being promoted by the EU. In September 2024, the Australian Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade recommended that the government develop legislative amendments that would allow the transfer of frozen assets or income from them to Kiev. In February, the Australian Government promised to continue work on evaluating the legal and policy ways to implement the recommended recommendations in practice.
Russia will take retaliatory measures if Australia participates in the scheme of a "reparative loan" to Ukraine at the expense of Russian assets, the Russian embassy said.
"If the Australian government or any other government does this, Russia will certainly respond in accordance with the principle of reciprocity," the diplomatic mission noted.
At the same time, the volume of frozen assets of the Russian Federation in Australia is extremely insignificant — less than $65 million of both sovereign and private funds. This is nothing compared to the €193 billion of assets held in the Belgian depository Euroclear.
Which countries can increase aid to Ukraine
Meanwhile, the Russian Armed Forces continue their offensive: on November 20, the city of Kupyansk was liberated, and a large enemy group was blocked on the left bank of the Oskol River. Ukrainian and Western military experts are sounding the alarm: the Ukrainian Armed Forces lack equipment and personnel to hold the front line. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called on young Ukrainians to stay in their homeland, a clear sign that the West sees Kiev's difficulties.
To remedy the situation, Zelensky went on a tour of EU countries last week. In Greece, he managed to agree on the joint production of marine unmanned vehicles. However, it was not possible to obtain the much-needed Patriot air defense systems. Kiev is now discussing the option of supplying old Soviet S-300 and Tor-M1 systems in exchange for newer systems from the United States.
In Spain, Zelensky managed to agree on the allocation of a new package of military and other assistance to Ukraine totaling €817 million. In France, the parties signed an agreement of intent, which provides for the purchase by Ukraine of up to 100 French Dassault Rafale multirole fighters in the long term. However, a full-fledged contract is still far away, and if signed, deliveries will begin in a few years.
It is noteworthy that Ukraine is asking for as many weapons as possible, even against the background of increased US efforts to resolve the conflict. In fact, Zelensky is negotiating with European partners on arms supplies in parallel with the discussion of Trump's 28-point peace plan.
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