Ukraine embassy reopening welcome, but long overdue Coalition says

Australia’s decision to reopen its embassy in Kyiv after almost three years has been welcomed, but the Coalition is demanding answers as to why it took so long.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong, in the Ukrainian capital on Wednesday, announced that Ambassador Paul Lehmann and the deputy chief of mission would return to the embassy in January —it was closed by the former Morrison Government in February 2022.

“The Albanese Government has always said we would reopen our embassy in Kyiv when it is safe to do so,” she said.

A cross-parliamentary inquiry in November said there was a “strong case” for the return of a physical diplomatic presence, pointing to 70 other countries that have reopened their embassies.

Canada, whose embassy is in the same building as Australia’s in Kyiv, reopened its office in May 2022.

Coalition foreign spokesman Simon Birmingham welcomed the “long overdue” decision to reopen the embassy but took aim at Senator Wong’s “inability to articulate why the embassy can reopen now, after arguing for more than two years that it couldn’t, only reinforces that this decision could and should have been made a long time ago”.

Senator Birmingham visited Kyiv in August and announced a Coalition Government would reopen the embassy.

“The Albanese Government’s failure to act much, much faster made Australia an outlier and meant that for more than two years Australia missed out on crucial in person briefings and intelligence that could have better informed our understanding of Russia’s war against Ukraine and the optimal support that Australia should have provided to Ukraine,” he said.

“The reopening of Australia’s embassy brings to an end an embarrassing episode that showed intransigence or ineptitude by the Albanese Government and was an insult to the courageous Ukrainian people.”

Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha, standing beside Senator Wong in Kyiv, said the decision to reopen the embassy was an “important factor in deepening the bilateral relationship”.

“Of course it is a very important step. Also it is a show of solidarity with Ukraine,” he said.

“We welcome this decision and we’re looking forward to further expanding expansion of the diplomatic participants from other countries.”

In Kyiv, Senator Wong also revealed Australia’s support for Ukraine would surpass $1.5 billion as she announced a tranche of new measures to help the ongoing fight against Russia’s illegal invasion.

Some $66m will be provided to the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development to help Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction efforts.

A further $10m will go to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, which provides heat and electricity for civilians.

And, after meeting families at Save Ukraine, a community organisation supporting vulnerable families and children impacted by the conflict, she pledged $80,000 to facilitate their work.

It brings Australia’s total financial support of Ukraine since the 2022 Russian invasion to more than $1.5 billion.

“Ukraine’s fight against Russia has consequences for our national security and the security of the Indo-Pacific,” she said.

“Today and every day, Australia stands with Ukraine against Russia’s aggression.”

Senator Birmingham said the Coalition supported the measures announced this week, as it did with all assistance to Ukraine.

“We hope that the reopening of Australia’s embassy will enable more timely commitments and delivery of that assistance into the future,” he said.