'Avoid trouble': Russia warns Australia against sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine following Albanese's suggestion
Russia has delivered an eerie warning to Australia after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was considering sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine.
Russia has issued a stern warning to Australia after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced he was considering sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine.
Mr Albanese spoke to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the phone on the weekend, where he showed "commitment to consider contributing to a coalition of the willing for Ukraine", according to a spokesman for the British leader.
The Labor leader confirmed the coalition of the willing had been discussed, and that it would be further spoken about at the Chiefs of Defence meeting in Paris on Tuesday.
"Australia will send a senior representative to that meeting to discuss, going forward, both of our nations are very clear about our support for Ukraine and it of course is too early — you can’t have peacekeeping forces without having peace," Mr Albanese said on Sunday.
"I certainly have said, very clearly, publicly, repeatedly, that we would give consideration to participating in any peacekeeping mission in the Ukraine."
In response to the Prime Minister's comments, the Russian embassy in Canberra issued a warning that Australia's joining of the coalition of the willing "would entail grave consequences".
It also accused Australia of being "firmly on the side of war" and that Canberra was "betting on continuing and escalating the conflict".
"Once again, Western boots on the ground are unacceptable for Russia, and we will not remain passive observers," the statement said.
"To those inclined to construe the above as a threat: it is not. It is a warning. Russia has no intention to harm Australians, and Canberra can easily avoid trouble by simply refraining from irresponsible adventurism in the zone of the Special Military Operation.
"It might seem even more ironic that a government so heavily invested in protracting the war has suddenly developed an interest in peacekeeping. But maybe it is not so surprising after all."
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton opposed the idea of sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, suggesting it was the job of European countries to provide more defence.
Mr Starmer has suggested deploying about 30,000 European peacekeeping troops in Ukraine while Canberra has remained "open" to helping if asked.
“Now Australia stands ready to assist. We have contributed $1.5 billion with $1.3 billion for military assistance directly,” Mr Albanese said.
“There’s discussion at the moment about potential peacekeeping. And from my government’s perspective, we’re open to consideration of any proposals going forward, as Australia has historically played an important role in areas including in Africa, in Cyprus, in a range of peacekeeping areas.”
https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/defence-and-foreign-affairs/avoid-trouble-russia-warns-australia-against-sending-peacekeeping-troops-to-ukraine-following-albaneses-suggestion/news-story/dfe6d5a48a3563ef9545159a3de39f46