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Hours before his nation , Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia warned the threat of Russian attacks against a “coalition of the willing” must not deter the West from sending peacekeeping personnel.
In an exclusive interview with SBS News, Vasyl Myroshnychenko acknowledged any such force “could be attacked” if assembled, but that doing so would also represent “a new level of escalation” in the current conflict.
Ukraine “expressed readiness to accept the United States proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire,” a joint statement said after the pivotal talks in Saudi Arabia overnight.
At the same time, , should a peace deal emerge.
Myroshnychenko praised the Albanese government’s newfound willingness to commit to such a mission, pointing out it would only enter Ukraine after a ceasefire, to act as a deterrent against further Russian aggression.
“We need you now. And when I say we, I mean Europe, because Australia may need Europe in the future, too,” he said.
The risks for foreign forces are clear, as any peacekeeping mission would operate without the usual approval of a United Nations Security Council resolution, which Russia, as one of the council’s five permanent members, could veto.
The Kremlin has been clear it will not accept Western boots on the ground in Ukraine.
“This is what Russia wants. If we take into account their interests, then probably everybody should abandon Ukraine and just cave in to Russia,” Myroshnychenko said.
‘What will they do? Drop a nuclear weapon on us?’
As Russia’s embassy on Tuesday warned of “grave consequences” if Australia joined “the so-called coalition of the willing”, Foreign Minister Penny Wong hit back — stating that Australia “won’t be intimidated”.
Donald Rothwell, a professor of international law at The Australian National University, has not downplayed the challenges Western forces could face on the ground in Ukraine.
“If Russia was to consider these foreign forces were entering Ukraine … and exercising the right of what’s called ‘collective self-defence’, those foreign forces could then become legitimate combatants, as far as Russia is concerned,” Rothwell said.
“That means they could then be targeted by Russian military, Russian missiles and Russian drones — consistent with Russia’s interpretation of international law.”
Defence and intelligence strategist Paul Dibb believes a multinational peacekeeping force “might tempt Russian President Vladimir Putin to do something nasty”.
“Particularly, if he [Vladimir Putin] feels no Americans will be there and that [US President] Donald Trump would not react adversely,” he said.
Otherwise, Dibb has dismissed Russia’s threats as “bluster”.
“What are they going to do, drop a nuclear weapon on us or something?” he questioned.
“The Russian military would struggle to do what the Chinese just did, which is to have four warships circle the continent of Australia.”
‘A threat for the entire Indo-Pacific’
Myroshnychenko — along with the federal government and Opposition — maintains that Ukraine’s success in its war against Russia is of critical strategic significance to Australia, 15,000km away.
He points to the involvement of North Korean troops in Russia’s Kursk region as an example.
“Commanders in Kursk yesterday commented that North Korean troops are actually much better than the Russian troops, much more organised,” he said.
“And do you know what that means for you? It means lots of danger for Indo-Pacific.”
“Because if North Korean troops are better than Russian troops, and now they’re gaining this invaluable combat experience, that’s a threat to South Korea. And that’s a threat for the entire Indo Pacific,” Myroshnychenko said.
Myroshnychenko is unperturbed by Opposition leader pointing instead to bipartisan support for military aid to Ukraine.
“If Australia decides that perhaps instead of committing troops on the ground, they can send 300 Bushmasters, 250 M113 Tiger helicopters or 200 Hawkeis … we’ll take them.
“I think that would be a very meaningful contribution instead of sending troops.”
