<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>335641</docID> <postdate>2024-12-19 06:58:56</postdate> <headline>Australia to reopen Ukraine embassy, pledges more aid</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-335642" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20240709139020419760-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>Australia has offered more support for Ukraine as its war against Russia enters a third year. (Thomas Parrish/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Tess Ikonomou</strong> in Canberra</span></p> <p><strong>Australia's support for Ukraine will surpass $1.5 billion as it offers more aid and reveals an embassy will reopen in the war-torn country for the first time since 2022.</strong></p> <p>Ambassador to Ukraine Paul Lehmann and the deputy head of mission will return to Kyiv in January, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said from the nation's capital on Thursday.</p> <p>Senator Wong visited Australia's embassy in Kyiv, which was closed by the former Morrison government in 2022 at the outbreak of war against Russia.</p> <p>"The Albanese government has always said we would reopen our embassy in Kyiv when it is safe to do so," she said.</p> <p>A cross-party parliamentary inquiry in November said there was a "strong case" for a return of a physical diplomatic presence, pointing to 70 other nations that have reopened their embassies.</p> <p>Senator Wong met Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, her counterpart Andrii Sybiha and Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko.</p> <p>Australia will provide $66 million to the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development to help Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction efforts.</p> <p>Another $10 million will go to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, to provide heat and electricity for civilians.</p> <p>This takes Australia's support of Ukraine to more than $1.5 billion in aid since Russia's invasion almost three years ago in February.</p> <p>Senator Wong said what happens to Ukraine matters to Australia.</p> <p>"Ukraine's fight against Russia has consequences for our national security and the security of the Indo-Pacific," she said.</p> <p>"Today and every day, Australia stands with Ukraine against Russia's aggression."</p> <p>The foreign minister also met people at community organisation Save Ukraine - which supports vulnerable families and children - where she announced $80,000 in funding.</p> <p>The parliamentary inquiry also found Defence and the foreign affairs department should set up a "one-stop-shop" to streamline Australia's support of Ukraine.</p> <p>Labor was strongly criticised after the scrapped MRH-90 Taipan helicopters were dismantled and buried, rather than donated to Ukraine for its war effort.</p> </body>