A spokesperson from DFAT mentioned that the embassy’s return to Kyiv will be dependent on thorough assessments of security, work health, and safety risks.
Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham is advocating for Australia’s ambassador to Ukraine to return to Kyiv. He has also pledged that the Coalition will reopen Australia’s embassy in Kyiv, which is currently located in Warsaw, Poland, due to concerns about staff safety and security.
Birmingham is currently in Kyiv, meeting with senior Ukrainian ministers and witnessing the impact of the war firsthand. Expressing his concerns, he stated that Australia continues to pay rent for an embassy in Kyiv, even though the ambassador is based in Poland, 100 kilometers away.
He emphasized the importance of having the ambassador in Ukraine to receive real-time intelligence briefings and engage in face-to-face meetings with the Ukrainian government, which Australia currently misses out on.
Paul Lehmann, Australia’s Ambassador to Ukraine, was appointed in December 2023 and has extensive experience in senior diplomatic roles in various countries.
Birmingham commended Lehmann’s work and acknowledged the challenges he faces under the rules set by the department and the government. He stressed the significance of supporting Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion to send a message to tyrants worldwide.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to present a strategy to end the war with Russia to U.S. leaders. The conflict began when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Foreign Affairs Decision Based on Security
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade reiterated Australia’s unwavering support for Ukraine and its people. The embassy’s presence in Ukraine is regularly reviewed, with the current operations being managed remotely from Warsaw.
Any decision to permanently return the embassy to Kyiv will be based on comprehensive security and safety assessments. This decision comes amidst ongoing missile and drone strikes in Ukraine, affecting critical infrastructure and causing civilian casualties.
DFAT Secretary Jan Adams highlighted the high risks to personnel in Kyiv and the challenges of mitigating security threats. The embassy’s remote operations from Warsaw are supported by active engagement with Ukraine’s embassy in Canberra.
DFAT’s Smartraveller website continues to advise against traveling to Ukraine due to the volatile security environment and military conflict, emphasizing the serious risk to life.
Please rewrite this sentence.
Source link
