Australia Announces $95 Million Support Package for Ukraine, Imposes New โฃSanctions on Russia
CANBERRA – Australia will provide a $95 million funding boost to Ukraine through the International Fund for Ukraine (PURL),โ alongside aโข new package of sanctions targeting russian oil revenue, officials announced today. The support demonstrates AustraliaS continued solidarity with Ukraine, NATO โpartners, and those in โthe Indo-Pacific โregionโข as they work towards a “just and lasting peace,” according to a โgovernment statement.
The $95 millionโ contribution toโ PURL is along with $43 million worthโ of Australian Defence Force equipment, including tactical air defence radars and munitions. A further $2 โmillion will be allocated to the Drone Capabilityโ Coalition, focused on supplying Ukraine withโฃ advanced drone โขtechnology.
Australia isโ also continuing its role in training Ukrainian forces in the โคUnited Kingdom under Operation Kudu, and recently deployed an E-7A Wedgetail aircraft to help secure humanitarian and military supply routes into ukraine. The final delivery of Australia’s fleet of 49โ M1A1 โคAbramsโ tanks is expected in the coming weeks.
Alongside the military aid, Foreignโข Minister Penny Wong announced โfresh sanctions targeting 45 Russian ships, designed to “starve Russia’s oilโ revenues and limit its ability to finance its invasion.” Wong noted that direct Australian imports of Russianโข energyโฃ products have fallen from $80โ million โคbefore โthe invasion to zero consequently ofโข previous sanctions. โฃThis latest wave of maritime-focused sanctions brings the total number imposed โฃon Russia to nearly 1,700.
The government is currently considering โคa request to send retiring Tiger attack helicopters to Kyiv,โ following disappointment over the decision to dismantle โขand buryโฃ Australia’s grounded โMRH-90 Taipan helicopter fleet after a fatal crash during a training exercise in July 2023.