Australia slaps more sanctions on Russia and criticises China's 'unacceptable' response

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has unveiled a third tranche of sanctions against Russia, while also providing non-lethal military equipment to Ukraine following the country's invasion.

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks to the media to announce sanctions on top Russian officials Source: AFP / STEVEN SAPHORE/AFP via Getty Images

Australia has imposed more sanctions against Russia, targeting several of its elite citizens and politicians, and said it was "unacceptable" that China was easing trade restrictions with Moscow at this time.

"We will work along with our partners for a rolling wave of sanctions and continuing to ratchet up that pressure on Russia," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said during a media conference on Friday morning.

The new sanctions, which will mirror similar moves from the United States and the United Kingdom, will apply to members of Russia's parliament who voted to authorise the military action, as well as Russian oligarchs.
The prime minister said Australia would work with American authorities to align sanctions against Belarusians who were complicit with Russian efforts.

"Russia has been planning these acts of violence for some considerable period of time, but there must be a cost, there must be a price and it must be imposed by the global community," Mr Morrison told reporters in Adelaide.
"We understand the concern that the threat of sanctions did not lead to (Russia) not going ahead with this. That was not our expectation."

Australia will also work alongside NATO partners to provide non-lethal military equipment and medical supplies to Ukraine.
"We are a long way from Ukraine, and the most effective way is to be doing that to our NATO partners to ensure we can support that commitment," Mr Morrison said.

"We are providing financial support as well as equipment through that NATO channel."

The prime minister also singled out China for failing to call out the Russian invasion of Ukraine and impose sanctions.
Mr Morrison said it was concerning China was easing trade restrictions with Russia at a time when most nations were imposing sanctions.

"That is simply unacceptable ... and I would urge all nations to decide this is not a time to be easing trade restrictions with Russia," he said.

"This is of great concern to Australia that these acts are not being called out with the same voice when it comes to those in our region."

Mr Morrison and Finance Minister Simon Birmingham will meet with members of the Ukrainian community later on Friday in Adelaide.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Australia was working closely with other nations to apply pressure on Russia.
"There are no alternatives to sanctions, the alternative is no penalties and no costs and that is unacceptable," she told Sky News.

"(Russian President Vladimir Putin) clearly wants to reverse history and force Ukraine back under authoritarian control, but Ukraine has chosen a different path and a path of democracy."

Previous rounds have included sanctions on Russian army commanders, mercenaries responsible for attacks and eight members of Russia's security council.

Multiple Russian financial institutions have also been targeted.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton told the Nine Network that Mr Putin had retreated to a Cold War-era mentality.
Russia President Vladimir Putin.
Russian President Vladimir Putin. Source: AAP
"(Mr Putin) believes that Ukraine's territory should be part of Russia and that's his intent.

"He's 69 years of age and he wants to see it in his lifetime.

"We should be very careful about autocrats like this who have this world view that they want to go back to a Cold War-era or back to a period of conflict and that's a price that they're willing to pay."

But the defence minister says Russia is likely to continue to focus on Ukraine, with any push into Poland invoking a response from the US-backed NATO security alliance.

Separately, Mr Morrison has thrown his support behind sporting organisations boycotting events in Russia.

Mr Morrison on Twitter welcomed a decision by Australian aerial skier Danielle Scott to leave Russia and not compete in the World Cup event there this weekend.

Scott, who recently competed at the Beijing Winter Olympics, said she could not believe the situation was happening.

"In the uniquely unifying power of sport, I wished so badly for this situation to be different," she said on social media.

The prime minister issued public support for Scott, and urged other athletes and sporting bodies to follow suit.

"All international sporting events in Russia should have their authorisations withdrawn from all international sporting bodies," Mr Morrison said. "This includes the F1 grand prix in Sochi."

The Russian Grand Prix is due to be held in late September. Former world champion Sebastian Vettel has called on the sport's governing body, the FIA, not to hold the event in Russia.

Share
5 min read
Published 25 February 2022 11:57am
Updated 25 February 2022 12:37pm
Source: AAP, Reuters


Share this with family and friends