The Ukrainian president called for armored vehicles and tougher sanctions on Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky directly asked Australian lawmakers on Thursday for further assistance in his war against Russia, including armored vehicles and tougher sanctions.

Zelensky has been adapting his message to individual countries through video appeals such as that shown to legislators in the Australian Parliament. Lawmakers gave him a standing ovation at the beginning and end of his 16-minute speech.

He called for a ban on the entry of Russian ships into international ports.

“We need more sanctions against Russia, strong sanctions until they stop blackmailing other countries with their nuclear missiles,” Zelensky said through an interpreter.

Zelensky specifically ordered Bushmasters four-wheel drive armored vehicles manufactured in Australia.

“They have very good armed personnel vehicles, Bushmasters, that could substantially help Ukraine and other pieces of equipment,” Zelensky said.

While Ukraine's capital, Kiev, was 15,000 kilometers (9,300 miles) from the Australian capital, Canberra, Zelensky said Australia was not safe from the conflict that threatened to turn into nuclear war.

He suggested that a Russian victory over Ukraine would encourage China to declare war on Taiwan.

“The most terrible thing is that if we don't stop Russia now, if we don't hold Russia to account, then some other countries in the world that expect similar wars against their neighbors will decide that such things are possible for them too,” Zelensky said.

Zelensky also said that Russia would not have invaded Ukraine if Moscow had been punished for the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in Ukraine.

Two weeks ago, the Australian and Dutch governments initiated a legal case against Russia at the International Civil Aviation Organization to hold Moscow responsible for its alleged role in the missile attack that killed all 298 people on board. Of the victims, 196 were Dutch citizens and 38 Australian residents.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison had previously told the president that Australia would provide additional military assistance, including tactical decoys, unmanned air and ground systems, rations and medical supplies. He later said that the additional aid would cost 25 million Australian dollars (19 million dollars).

“You have our prayers, but you also have our weapons, our humanitarian aid, our sanctions against those who seek to deny your freedom and you even have our coal,” Morrison said.

Australia has already pledged or provided Ukraine with 91 million Australian dollars ($68 million) in military assistance, 65 million Australian dollars ($49 million) in humanitarian aid and 70,000 metric tons (77,200 US tons) of coal.

Earlier on Thursday, the government announced that Australia would impose an additional 35% tariff on all imports from Russia and Belarus as of April 25.

Oil and energy imports from Russia will be banned from that date. Exports to Russia of Australian aluminum ore will also be banned.

Sanctions have been imposed on more than 500 individuals and entities in Russia and Belarus. The sanctions cover 80% of the Russian banking sector and all government entities that handle Russian sovereign debt.

Jeremy Fleming, who heads the government communications headquarters of Britain's electronic espionage agency, used a speech in Canberra on Thursday to praise Zelensky's “information operation.”

Fleming said that Zelensky had been very effective in countering Russia's mass misinformation campaign that spread propaganda about the war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had apparently “largely miscalculated” the invasion, he said.

“We have seen Russian soldiers, lacking weapons and morale, refusing to follow orders, sabotaging their own equipment and even accidentally shooting down their own plane,” Fleming said.

(with information from AP)

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