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December 19, 2024
The Albanese government has announced the reopening of its embassy in Kyiv amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who visited Kyiv on Wednesday, confirmed the embassy would resume operations next month.
The decision comes after more than two years of closure, a period in which Australia's diplomatic presence in Ukraine was reduced due to the escalation of Russia’s invasion.
Ms Wong emphasised the embassy's reopening was a signal of Australia's unwavering solidarity with Ukraine.
"The Albanese government has always said we would reopen our Embassy in Kyiv when it is safe to do so," she said.
The Foreign Minister visited the site of the embassy in Kyiv, which was closed in 2022 under the previous government.
The Australian Ambassador to Ukraine and Deputy Head of Mission will return to Kyiv from next month.
The reopening of the embassy has followed years of debate and criticism from the opposition.
Shadow foreign affairs minister Simon Birmingham welcomed the announcement on Thursday but blamed the Albanese government for the delayed reopening.
"For two years the Coalition has questioned why Australia’s embassy had remained closed when more than 70 other countries had already reopened theirs," he said.
"In August this year I personally travelled to Kyiv on behalf of the Coalition... visited the embassy site and announced that 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."
Shadow home affairs minister James Paterson told Sky News the embassy’s reopening was “frankly, far too late”.
“This is another important international relationship that the Albanese government and Penny Wong have mismanaged,” he said.
“We obviously rightly closed our embassy immediately following the Russian invasion of Ukraine when it was uncertain whether Ukraine would be able to continue to control Kyiv.
“But after it became apparent that they were able to do so and repel Russia's initial invasion, we should have immediately reopened the embassy.”
Canada, which shares the same building as the empty Australian embassy, reopened its doors in May 2022.
Despite these criticisms, Mr Birmingham acknowledged the importance of the embassy’s reopening and expressed his ongoing bipartisan support for Ukraine.
"We maintain our bipartisan support for all Australian assistance to Ukraine, including the measures announced by Senator Wong," Mr Birmingham said.
"(We) hope that the reopening of Australia’s embassy will enable more timely commitments and delivery of that assistance into the future."
During her visit, Ms Wong met with senior Ukrainian officials, including Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov.
She also announced a series of new commitments to support Ukraine’s recovery efforts.
"Australia has unequivocally condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and provided more than $1.5 billion in assistance to Ukraine since the full-scale conflict began," she said.
"Australia will provide $66 million to the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, to assist with Ukraine’s vital recovery and reconstruction efforts.
"Australia will also contribute $10 million in assistance to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund to provide heat and electricity for Ukrainians."