Australia's latest sanctions on Russia's "shadow fleet" are symbolic and still fall short of measures imposed by the European Union and the United Kingdom, an expert says, despite praise from Ukraine's ambassador.
The $95 million aid package brings Australia's total support of Ukraine to $1.7 billion since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Defence Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a joint statement on Thursday.
The ministers also announced targeted sanctions on an additional 45 Russian "shadow fleet" vessels — tankers used to carry Russian crude oil to countries such as India and China, where it is refined and sold on to markets including Australia.
The addition of 45 new vessels brings the total number of sanctioned shadow fleet ships to 200, according to Thursday's joint statement.
An SBS investigation in October revealed that, at that time, at least 25 of these vessels remained in the supply chains of Australian companies.
Call for more action on indirect oil imports
Wong said the latest sanctions were "part of a coordinated effort to starve Russia's oil revenues and limit its ability to finance its invasion".
However, Anton Moiseienko, a senior law lecturer at the Australian National University, told SBS News the sanctions would not meaningfully restrict Russia's oil revenue.
While Wong highlighted that "direct Australian imports of Russian energy products have fallen from $80 million before Russia's invasion to zero", Moiseienko said direct imports were only one part of a much bigger picture.
Unlike the EU and UK, Australia has not banned indirect purchases, and until similar restrictions were adopted, Moiseienko said its actions would remain "largely symbolic".
"Australia is in a very uncomfortable position of being one of the major holdouts in relation to [imposing] those sanctions," he said.
Ukraine's ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, said that, while the additional shadow fleet sanctions were welcome, more needed to be done — including restrictions on companies or countries that still enable Russia to sell its oil.
"If we can limit the ability of Russia to make money out of [oil and gas], we will be able to starve their economy and deprive them an opportunity to produce more weapons to kill Ukrainians," he told SBS News.
Greens defence spokesperson David Shoebridge called on the federal government to implement further sanctions on Russian oil imports.
"Australia needs to make it clear, no oil that is sourced in Russia, whether it's washed through a refinery in India or not, can be sold into Australia," he said.
Ukraine ambassador praises 'true act of mateship'
In Thursday's joint statement, Marles said Australia was "unwavering in its support for Ukraine".
"These commitments will make a tangible difference in Ukraine's defence against Russia's illegal and immoral invasion," he said.
Those comments were echoed by Myroshnychenko, who said the federal government's package was a "tangible contribution" to his nation's war effort.
He thanked Marles and Wong, telling SBS News the latest package was a "true act of mateship".
"Australia remains the largest ... military contributor ... outside of NATO, for which we are grateful," he told SBS News.
He said funds from the package would be used to procure ammunition and missiles from the United States, which would save Ukrainian lives.
Of the $95 million announced on Thursday, $50 million will go towards the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) initiative to supply Ukraine with critical military equipment.
Australian Defence Force supplies and weapons worth $43 million will also be donated, including tactical air defence radars, munitions and combat engineering equipment.
An extra $2 million will be provided to help Ukraine with advanced drone technologies.
Australia has also imposed targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on more than 1,180 people and 293 entities.
The Coalition welcomed the latest support package but said it was "long overdue" and a "drop in the ocean" compared to Australia's $56 billion defence budget.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said military support for Ukraine was about supporting the "brave Ukrainian people" to stand up against "unacceptable Russian brutality and aggression".
"The end of this war can't come soon enough, but it needs to be a lasting peace that does justice to the courage that the Ukrainians have shown," he told ABC RN on Thursday morning.
The announcement comes during another round of peace talks aimed at ending the war.
However, the path ahead for Ukraine peace talks is unclear, US president Donald Trump said on Wednesday, after what he previously described as "reasonably good" talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US envoys.
A meeting between the White House and Ukrainian officials is scheduled for Thursday.
— Additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press.
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