Ukrainian ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko urges Australia to do more

Ukraine’s Ambassador to Australia says his nation needs more than “drip-fed” aid and has called on the nation to shift its defence manufacturing into “overdrive”.

Marking the second year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Vasyl Myroshnychenko urged Australia to remain an enthusiastic member of a band of like-minded countries that will become the “arsenal of democracy for Ukraine”.

In a speech to the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday, the ambassador issued a plea for a supply of consistent support to his nation to help it defeat Russia.

“We have drip-fed and ad hoc one-off support contributions sufficient to hang on and to keep going,” he said.

“The current model sees international assistance arriving in ad hoc packets that are barely enough, and only just in time.

“We need more; More of everything.

“We need enough to end this war and to defeat Russia’s invasion. Hanging on is not enough.”

Mr Myroshnychenko said Ukraine needed the governments and defence industries of its allies to move “into a higher gear, overdrive”.

“They need to shift from a calculated drawing down of surplus war stocks and move to a determined wartime production footing,” he said.

He urged the international community to allow Ukraine to demonstrate what it was capable of, when it was given the support it needed.

“That is my message to you, to the Five Eyes nations, to NATO members, and to the EU: Let us show you that we can do more if you provide us with more,” the ambassador said.

Mr Myroshnychenko pointed to the generosity of Australian mining magnate Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest, and said there was a role for the private sector industry, business and philanthropy to help Ukraine in its efforts.

The Forrest family’s Minderoo Foundation has donated $5 million to help authorities remove land mines in the northwest and south of the country, directly benefiting thousands of Ukrainians.

The foundation has previously committed more than $13 million in critical aid to Ukraine.

Australia could also lend its hand to “thought leadership” for “innovative, creative, effective ways to generate a fast, slick military and humanitarian supply chain into Ukraine”, Mr Myroshnychenko said

“Ukraine’s front-line troops and Ukraine’s civilians clearly know exactly what Australia has given them,” the ambassador added.

“They are deeply grateful and will never forget Australia.

“The defence of Ukraine has bi-partisan support in the Australian parliament, and frankly speaking, Ukraine needs it.”

Russian forces have seized about one-fifth of the country and killed about 40,000 Ukrainian soldiers and civilians.