Australia to step up civil and military assistance for Ukraine as Tony Abbott takes greater position on world stage

 Tony Abbott takes greater position on world stage

David Wroe, Defence Correspondent

The Abbott government is set to send military trainers and advisers to help Ukraine counter Russia's recent aggression against its neighbour, effectively involving Australia in one of the world's most fraught international crises.

On top of confirming for the first time that Washington has made a "general request" for more military help from Australia in Iraq, Prime Minister Tony Abbott told Parliament on Wednesday that Australia was considering sending "civil and military capacity-building assistance" to Ukraine.

This is understood to take the form of Australian Defence Force personnel who will train and advise the Ukrainian military - a clear signal that Mr Abbott is pushing to position Australia firmly as an active "middle power" in international affairs.

But just hours after Mr Abbott made his announcement, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko declared he had reached a ceasefire deal with Moscow, though whether this will end the fighting with pro-Kremlin rebels in the country's east remains unclear.

Less than two months after the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH-17 and with more than 1000 Kremlin troops flooding across the border into Ukraine in recent weeks, Mr Abbott made it clear Australia was getting firmly in Ukraine's corner over its rising tensions with its giant, nuclear-armed neighbour.

"The government and, I believe, the Australian people, would like to repay Ukraine for its support and friendship, especially as Ukraine continues to be subject to active destabilisation and indeed outright invasion from Russia, a country it has never, ever sought to harm," he said.

More immediately, Australia will provide "non-lethal military assistance" to Ukraine, such as military winter clothing, blankets and first-aid kits. It will also establish an embassy in the capital, Kiev.

Mr Poroshenko said he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the conversation "resulted in an agreement on constant ceasefire in the Donbas" - referring to eastern Ukraine, including the Donetsk region - where flight  MH-17 flight was shot down on July 17 by pro-Russian rebels, killing all 298 people on board, including 38 Australian citizens and residents.

NATO  has recently reported that at least 1000 Russian troops, as well as tanks and other equipment, had cross the border into Ukraine.

Australian government sources said the military training and advice would aim to build up the Ukrainian military as an institution and could include logistics training, legal training - indicating issues such as rules-of-engagement for troops in conflict - and English-language training. But this leaves open the possibility of further, more substantial training. It is understood that will begin in coming months.

Mr Abbott said the assistance would be provided in co-operation with European partners and allies.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Defence Minister David Johnston are due to attend a NATO summit in Wales on Thursday and Friday, where the Ukraine crisis will be discussed.

Peter Jennings, executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said Mr Abbott was clearly trying to expand Australia's role in the strategic stage.

"What you're seeing here is the physical expression of something that Tony Abbott wants to do, which is to lift Australia's profile globally on security issues. As far as Ukraine is concerned, he's actually doing what you would hope more European and NATO countries would have done."

Mr Jennings said Australia could easily help in Iraq and Ukraine at the same time and this should not place an undue burden on the Australian Defence Force.

It came as the Prime Minister also gave his clearest indication yet that Australia was moving closer to helping the United States militarily in any expanded battle against the brutal Islamic State group that wreaking havoc in Iraq.

While reiterating that the government had received no "specific request" for assistance from Washington, he confirmed for the first time that it had received a "general request", indicating that the US had sought in-principle support for an expanded military campaign.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/australia-to-step-up-civil-and-military-assistance-for-ukraine-as-tony-abbott-takes-greater-position-on-world-stage-20140903-10c28y.html#ixzz3CFJ0iZR7