Russian ambassador attends Greens leader's speech on Ukraine aid
The Russian ambassador attended the new Greens leader's speech. He defended the party's refusal to fund military aid to Ukraine.
Greens leader Senator David Shoebridge gave his first major speech at the National Press Club. The Russian ambassador, Mikhail Petrakov, sat in the audience.
Shoebridge said he did not invite him and called his attendance unwelcome. The Greens support Ukraine with money and trade sanctions.
But they follow a policy of peace and non-violence. This rules out military aid.
Ukraine's ambassador sharply criticized the position, saying it aligns with Russian interests. Labor and the Coalition have both condemned the Greens' policy.
Inside the Greens, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young disagrees, publicly backing military support for Ukraine.
- over $1.8 billion
- Australian military aid
- Mikhail Petrakov
- Russian ambassador
- Vasyl Myroshnychenko
- Ukraine's ambassador
- David Shoebridge
- Greens leader
Why it mattersAustralia's military aid to Ukraine is worth over $1.8 billion. This aid sits at the heart of a growing fight over foreign policy. The fight is about how to respond to the war.
AustraliaThe Greens' Ukraine policy now faces sustained pressure from both major parties and from within its own ranks, potentially affecting how Australian defence support for Ukraine evolves.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 3 h ago
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