Joint press conference, Kyiv, Ukraine

Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine Foreign Minister: Today we've had detailed negotiations on all the bilateral and international agenda and we will keep our conversations. I've informed my colleague about the battlefield situation and the Russian shelling of our critical infrastructure and energy system. That includes the nuclear energy facilities. Russia doesn't want peace and does everything to expand the war, from engaging the North Korean troops to the use of medium-range ballistic missiles. In these circumstances, peace can only be achieved by force, by strengthening Ukraine and by making the war more expensive for the aggressor.

The key topic of our negotiations was the additional support by Australia in strengthening the resilience of Ukraine. We deeply appreciate the military assistance. In particular, the recently provided 49 Abrams tank and 14 boats. Overall, over $1 billion were provided as aid from Australia. $880 million of those are military aid. The battlefield situation remains very remains complicated. We still have the need to supply our warriors. That's why today I also sent a request to provide additional military assistance, including the famous Australian Bushmasters and other armaments. Also I suggested to consider the needs of Ukraine when decommissioning the equipment which is used by the Australian Defence Forces. And we've also raised the topic of the deepened cooperation Russia and North Korea and the threats it bears.

So, supporting Ukraine is in the interests of Australia because it strengthens the stability not only in the European space but also in the Pacific region. We must strengthen the pressure on the aggressor state and make the war more expensive for Kremlin. Also we've discussed the development of our bilateral conversations, of our bilateral relationship, and the reopening possibility of reopening the embassy of Australia to Ukraine. I'm sure that this step will help additionally strengthen our active bilateral cooperation. I also invited the Australian party to take part in the Ukraine Recovery Conference next year. And we would welcome the participation of Australia and Australian companies in Ukraine reconstruction. I would like to say thank you to every Australian who sincerely supports Ukraine in our fight for freedom and justice. We do feel your support. We appreciate it. Thank you so much. And over to you.

Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Thank you very much, Foreign Minister Sybiha, for welcoming me to Ukraine. When we met in New York, I said to you, I will try and get here. And I'm very pleased that we have been able to arrange this visit. A visit, and it comes at such an important time for your country and for the future of your people. The people of Ukraine have suffered immensely for almost three years because of Russia's illegal, unprovoked, unjustified and immoral invasion. An invasion that, as the Minister said, is a violation of international law and the UN Charter by a permanent member of the Security Council. So, this is an attack not just on Ukraine and your people, but it is an attack on all countries that rely on international rules for peace, stability and prosperity. That is why Australia, we are a long way away, but we understand, our interests are engaged here. We understand that Russia's illegal and immoral invasion cannot be normalised and it cannot be minimised.

I have described President Putin's act of using the Russian veto to justify and continue his own illegal actions as the acts of a coward. And he has now sunk to new lows in inviting North Korea to cooperate to try and win this war. It is a reminder that our security as between the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific are interconnected. Australia stands with Ukraine and we want you to end this war on your own terms. We want Ukrainians to live in peace, to be able to rebuild their lives and their homeland. Now, Australia, as I said, we are on the other side of the world, but we have been a partner. We have provided some $1.3 billion in military assistance, including the, obviously, the Bushmasters, tanks and drones and air defence systems.

I am able today to announce four further measures in my portfolio. We are committing $66 million to the European bank of reconstruction and development to help Ukraine access approximately $400 million in additional lending over the next 10 years to assist with your recovery and reconstruction efforts.

In relation to energy, I had the privilege, the honour, actually it was quite humbling to visit the Trypilska complex today. The facility which has been targeted by Russia and we understand, as the winter is with us, this is an attack by Russia on the morale of the Ukrainian people and why energy matters so much. So, we have previously announced $20 million of Australian money towards Ukraine Energy Support Fund to support your energy needs. And I announced today an additional $10 million to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund. Later today I will also visit the local organisation, Save Ukraine, which works with families impacted by the Russian invasion, including the rehabilitation and reintegration of children returning from Russia. We will contribute $80,000 to help facilitate the work of this organisation.

And finally, I'm very pleased to announce that we are now able to reopen our embassy in Kyiv. We always said we would do so when it was safe to do so. We have been working to reestablish the security arrangements to enable this to happen. And I'm very pleased to be here to announce the reopening of the Australian Embassy. And then from next month, our Ambassador Lehmann, who is here with us, will be based here in Kyiv. And in the coming months our embassy will be fully operational. In closing, I say again, we are unwavering in our support for the people of Ukraine. Australia stands with you and we hope that I can return here and see a peaceful, stable Ukraine that has achieved an end to this war on your own terms. Thank you very much.

Journalist: Thank you very much. Foreign Minister for Ukraine. May I ask, it has taken Australia almost three years to reopen its embassy when other Western nations were back in within a few months. Has that damaged the relationship at all?

Minister Sybiha: Well, firstly, we deeply appreciate, we deeply appreciate the decision of the Australian side to reopen the embassy. It always is an important factor in deepening the bilateral relationship because the Ambassador can always get the information first hand. It always creates the possibility to have more direct communication. So, of course it is a very important step. Also it is a show of solidarity with Ukraine. The Australian diplomats, Australian friends, share all the challenges, all the hardships endured by the Ukrainian people. So, it's a very important event from that side and we welcome this decision and we're looking forward to further expanding expansion of the diplomatic participants from other countries.

Journalist: Welcome Minister, 49 Abrams tanks have already been provided to Ukraine. I would like to clarify this and is there a specific figure of Bushmasters that are planned by Australia to give to Ukraine? Maybe the decommissioned or planned for decommissioning or what sort of equipment would be there? And my question to Mr. Minister, can you confirm the situation that indeed this mechanism of passing the leadership in the Ramstein format from the US to NATO is now being considered? What is the current stance? I know that it's been discussed in summer and well, it was decided that the US should stay the leader of the format.

Minister Wong: Thank you. Well, when the announcement was made by the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, who is our Minister for Defence, so we gifted some 49 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. On the 11th of July of this year we also announced $250 million, a package of assistance which included air defence missiles, air to ground weapons, anti-tank weapons, artillery and combat boots. And we are also partnering with, as an operational partner in NATO's Security and Training initiatives for Ukraine. We have also previously announced $30 million for drones and $50 million for short range air defence systems. And in 2023 we gifted 120 Bushmasters. I have heard my friends' request for further assistance and obviously I will take those requests back to Australia for further consideration.

Minister Sybiha: I would like to say thanks once again to Minister, Senator, for the assistance and for the practical input in the strengthening of our defence capabilities. So, coming back to your question, let me remind you that the Ramstein format was created in the first months after the full-scale invasion and it brought together our close allies for establishing clear priorities and for ensuring the continuity of weapons supply to Ukraine. The format has shown to be very effective and it allowed for some clear plans for the Ukrainian side and it helped properly coordinate the activities of the allies to strengthen our defence capabilities. Of course, with NATO we are now achieving this level of relationship on our pathway to NATO membership which would naturally grow into strengthened coordination. So, these processes go hand in hand. They all are linked to the further progress of Ukraine on its path to NATO membership and the implementation of our Euro Atlantic aspirations. Thank you so much.