KEY POINTS:
- The High Court has dismissed Russia's challenge to its embassy eviction.
- Parliament passed laws to block a Russian embassy being built nearby.
- A Russian diplomat who had been squatting at the site left on Monday.
A Russian diplomat who spent days squatting at the scene of his country's proposed new embassy left soon after the High Court ruled Moscow had no claim to the site.
Moscow's attempt to hang onto the site, a few hundred metres from Parliament House in Canberra, was rejected on Monday as Justice Jayne Jagot ruled its legal arguments were weak.
Russia had sought an injunction after the federal government recently cancelled its lease to build an embassy at the site. The government argued its proximity to parliament posed security concerns.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed the decision on Monday, saying he expected Russia to comply with the ruling despite having "not been real good at upholding the law in recent times".
Moments after Mr Albanese spoke, the Russian diplomat was seen being whisked away in a nearby car but made no comments to waiting journalists.
He had been holding out in a demountable building at the site and was pictured receiving food deliveries and smoking cigarettes over the weekend.
"I think it is a pretty good space there ... so it is not intended to give it to or allow for any other embassy to be there, either,” Mr Albanese told reporters on Monday.
"We will consider the purpose of the land but we expect the law to be upheld. Australia supports the law, Russia has not been real good at upholding the law in recent times."
The National Capital Authority granted the lease for the Yarralumla site in December 2008 and building approvals followed in 2011.
Under the lease conditions, Russia had agreed to finish construction within three years, but the embassy remains partially built. Russia's embassy in the inner-south Canberra suburb of Griffith will not be affected by the decision.
More support for Ukraine's defence effort
Mr Albanese also revealed an additional $110 million package to fund Ukraine's ongoing efforts to repel Russia's invasion, taking Australia's total outlay since the war began to nearly $800 million.
The package will include 70 military vehicles - including 28 armoured trucks and 14 special operations vehicles - along with $10 million to the United Nations to coordinate humanitarian efforts.
Mr Albanese insisted Monday’s announcement was unrelated to events in Russia over the weekend, in which President Vladimir Putin averted an apparent coup attempt by the Wagner mercenary group.
The Russian diplomat had been holding out in this demountable at the site of a proposed new Russian embassy. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
"It is sobering that 16 months on from Russia's invasion, its brutal conflict continues."
The package did not include additional Bushmasters or Hawkeis, vehicles that Kyiv has specifically requested.
(left to right) Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
"Australia is an important international player. We're a middle level-power - not the size of the UK or the US, but we can significantly contribute," he said.
"If President Zelenskyy is now asking for Hawkeis, they should be provided because that will give them the best chance of defeating President Putin ... they should get on with it and provide that support."
Ukrainian ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko said he was "extremely grateful personally" to Mr Albanese, insisting any equipment made available would help Ukraine restore its sovereignty.
Asked whether he was disappointed by the lack of those specific vehicles, Mr Myroshnychenko said he was "optimistic" about further assistance.
"We'll continue working with the Australian government closely and see what else could be provided," he said.
"Certainly, Bushmasters have performed really well ... and I hope that Australia will be able to consider sending other items from our request list to Ukraine later on."
Wagner march part of 'disaster' for Vladimir Putin: Anthony Albanese
The Kremlin struck an agreement with Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin over the weekend, which saw the mercenary group call off its advance through sections of Russia.
But speaking to the ABC earlier on Monday, Mr Albanese rejected suggestions the deal was the end of the matter.
"Quite clearly, you can't have events like that and just wipe them out [and] pretend that you'll go back to stability," he said.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong says events in Russia over the weekend have called Vladimir Putin's (pictured) invasion into question. Source: AAP / Pavel Bednyakov/AP
Mr Myroshnychenko said the number of troops willing to back Wagner, before it aborted its march, was the "first signal" that Mr Putin's rule was "gradually crumbling".
"Definitely, Putin has come out of it weakened. His leadership is questioned and he is damaged. The damage has been done to his leadership is enormous," he said.
Mr Myroshnychenko did not believe the deal had put the tension to rest.
"In Russia, it's all about power. When you question power and challenge power, you can't come out of it alive. So a lot will depend how things will develop in the next several weeks."
* With additional reporting from AAP.
