Australian PM listens to plight of locals in Ukraine amid war with Russia; affirms support

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited war-ravaged Ukraine on Sunday and met locals at sites of Russian offensive. Albanese, who also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, encountered both warmth and sness of Ukrainians impacted by more than 130 days of Moscow-Kyiv war. According to ABC News, Australian embassy staffer Nia Teriokhina elaborated to Albanese how her priority was to not get trapped behind enemy lines when Russian President Vlimir Putin announced “special” operation in Ukraine on February 24. 

She reportedly told Australian PM that she counter herself among lucky ones. Notably, just 10 minutes from Teriokhina’s home in Irpin, hundreds were massacred in Bucha, near Kyiv. She told Albanese, “We didn't know what to do, how to behave or where to run...I said to my husband, 'I just don't want to be in occupied territory,' so we went to Kyiv."

Albanese travelled under secrecy to Ukraine through Poland and transited war-torn nation using an armoured diplomatic train which was seen being used by a range of or leers. He travelled in a group of seven and as per report, se included his social media photographer, foreign affairs viser, national security viser, a senior member of his department and one of his personal political staffers.

He visited war-impacted sites in Ukraine including Bucha, Hostomel and Irpin. Notably, all three towns near Ukrainian capital of Kyiv faced most intense brutality of Russian forces so far. Conveying plight of war, local council he Tars Shaprovskiy told Australian PM Albanese that “Bucha is now a notorious name. This is a very s place” while ding, “Every one of m shot. This was not collateral damage, this was intentional. One of slaughterhouses was a summer camp. re were four volunteers re. y were all shot”, according to ABC News.

In response, Albanese told Shaprovskiy, “Australia shares your desire to seek justice for se war crimes, and we will continue to do so."

Zelenskyy hails Australia for joining Ukraine's post-war reconstruction

Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Australian PM and hailed Canberra’s “reiness” in joining post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. Zelenksyy said, “Australia supports Ukraine and provides substantial aid, including defense one. Security cooperation and furr protection of freedom were key topics of our talks with Anthony Albanese. We also discussed food crisis provoked by Russia, economic challenges, and need to enhance macro-financial support for Ukraine.”

Ukrainian President ded, “We appreciate Australia's willingness to join post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. Thank you for visit and substantive negotiations!”

Image: AP