Amid condemnations and sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has indicated that there were no plans to engage the Australian military in support of Ukraine.
The Cable News Network reported that, although Morrison called Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “brutal” and “unprovoked,” he said that the Ukrainian government had yet to request their military support.
“We work closely with NATO and their member states. What we are doing is working with them in other ways,” he stated.
Morrison, however, said there would be “further waves of sanctions,” which may target more than 300 members of Russian parliament. This came after announcing new sanctions on 25 individuals and four financial institutions on Thursday.
The individuals affected by the new sanctions were army commanders, deputy defence ministers, and Russian mercenaries “responsible for the unprovoked and unacceptable aggression,” as well as businesses that had been involved in the development and sale of military technology and weapons, CNN reports.
“We must ensure there is a cost for this violent, unacceptable and egregious behaviour…,” he said.
Australia had, on Wednesday, announced sanctions on eight members of Russia’s Security Council, according to CNN.
“This is a chilling reminder of the world that we live in, and where the threats and aggression of bullies and those who seek to intimidate others to seek their own advantage … is a reality,” Morrison said.
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