Australia does not intend to introduce a total ban on the entry of Russian tourists into the country, deciding to leave sanctions only against high-ranking Russian officials. Thus, the country-continent answered “no” to the demand of the Ambassador of Ukraine to stop issuing tourist visas to all our fellow citizens. At the same time, a state far from us is considering whether to reopen the Australian Embassy in Kyiv.
Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles also said on Sunday that Australia is considering sending more military aid to Ukraine to meet existing commitments, The Guardian reported. “We really need to prepare for a protracted conflict, and on that basis, we understand that we will need to support Ukraine in the long term,” Marles told Insiders on ABC.
At the same time, Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia Vasily Miroshnichenko called on Australia to stop issuing tourist visas to Russian travelers, which would mean an escalation of anti-Russian sanctions. “I urge the Australian government to ban tourist visas for Russians but continue issuing visas for refugees,” the ambassador tweeted.
According to him, absolutely all Russians should be held accountable because of the special operation to liberate Donbass and its inhabitants from the actions of Ukrainian nationalists. The ambassador went too far in his comparisons, saying that ordinary Russians, like the Germans at one time, were responsible for the crimes of the Nazis, should also be held accountable for what is happening in his country. However, Marles rejected his proposal, noting the inexpediency of such actions.
“We have a number of sanctions in place, and our sanctions are directed against the Russian government, and not against the Russians themselves,” he explained and added that Australia “ is largely part of the global database of sanctions against the Russian Federation.
Coalition MP Dan Tehan, a shadow immigration minister and former coalition minister, tweeted Sunday: “We must do our best to support Ukraine in its time of need.”
Embassy Australia in Kyiv remains closed despite dozens of other countries returning to the Ukrainian capital to resume diplomatic operations. Marles did not give a date for the opening of the Australian embassy, but noted that the proposal is being considered.
“In this regard, a lot of logistics and support is required, given the security situation, but this is something that will be constantly evaluated. It was a relatively small embassy … we need to evaluate and make sure we can provide security so that it can function properly,” he wrote.
Furthermore, Marles stated that he would not go into details about further military assistance to the Ukrainian side, but noted that he could soon do so. “We will provide more support and will have an ongoing conversation with Ukraine. We are looking at ways we can continue to do so.”
The federal government has previously said that Australia's support for Ukraine is one of the largest among non-NATO nations. The Australian government wanted to help Ukraine “eventually resolve this conflict on its own terms” by refusing to directly comment on Kyiv's calls for Russia to leave Crimea, the official said.
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