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Opposition leader Peter Dutton has expressed disappointment over a public stoush between Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, and has vowed to lobby the United States president to reconsider his position.
Both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Dutton have set Australia apart from the US administration by backing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“The world needs to unite behind President Zelenskyy to stand up against a murderous dictator in Vladimir Putin,” Dutton told reporters in Queensland on Monday.
“I was disappointed by the scenes out of the White House, and I believe that President Zelenskyy requires the support of European countries, of the United States and countries like Australia as well.
“The Australian view at the moment is different to the United States, and my job as prime minister would be to lobby the president of the United States to reconsider his position in relation to Ukraine, because I think it’s in all of our collective best interests if we’re able to provide support to Ukraine.”
Though Dutton threw his full support behind Zelenskyy, he also struck a conciliatory tone on US concerns.
“The United States has an incredibly important role to play in the world, but it can’t be everywhere at once, and I think it’s important for Europe to step up,” Dutton said.
“There’s no doubt that we can have a very strong relationship — not just with the United States — but we also have a very strong relationship with other key allies.
“I think the world now, more than ever, needs like-minded countries to come together.”
Albanese has consistently backed Ukraine in the fallout of the argument and reiterated his support in remarks ahead of a cabinet meeting.
“The brave people of Ukraine, led so extraordinarily by President Zelenskyy, are fighting not just for their national sovereignty and for their democracy — they are fighting for the international rule of law,” he said on Monday.
“It is an easy choice that Australia has made, it’s a bipartisan position that Australia has had.”
