Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles stated on Thursday that Russia is the aggressor in the war against Ukraine and that its resolution must be determined on Kyiv’s terms.
Marles emphasized that despite the immense human toll, peace cannot come on any terms, Ukrinform reports, citing Reuters.
“The war in Ukraine must be resolved on Ukraine’s terms, because the aggressor here is Russia, and what we see at stake is the integrity of the rules‑based order, the global rules-based order,” Marles said.
Australia’s conservative opposition also criticized Trump’s position on Ukraine.
“I think President Trump has got it wrong. The thought that President Zelensky or the Ukrainian people started this battle or somehow they were responsible for the war is just wrong,” Peter Dutton, the leader of the Liberal opposition party, said on Thursday.
Dutton was defense minister when the Ukraine war started.
Australia is a major security ally for the United States in the Indo-Pacific, where both countries have expressed concern over China’s military build-up.
Trump called Zelensky a “dictator” on Wednesday, urging him to act quickly to secure peace or risk losing his country.
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Source: Australia says Ukraine war must be resolved on Kyiv's terms
