By Dominic Giannini in Canberra

RUSSIA has maintained its lease of a new embassy site in Canberra despite a push to strip it due to inactivity. 

The Russian government took the Commonwealth to court over the cancellation of the lease in Yarralumla.

The Federal Court ordered the Australian government to not interfere with Russia’s “quiet enjoyment of the land”.

The Australian government has also been ordered to not re-enter or take possession of the land for a five-year period.

The lease was cancelled by the National Capital Authority on the basis of inactivity.

Meanwhile, the federal opposition is pushing the government to provide extra assistance to Ukraine, with Kyiv calling for Australian Hawkei vehicles and tanks.

Ukraine has launched a public campaign for extra Australian support, including a new social media video using Mad Max footage to call for old tanks as new ones arrive.

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said it was embarrassing Ukraine had to result to public campaigns after direct lobbying from Kyiv to the government.

“This is now a public campaign being waged by the Ukrainian government and officials, presumably out of frustration because they haven’t managed to get a response from Australia,” he said.

“It speaks to our standing in the world, it speaks to perceived support of Ukraine, it speaks to the responsiveness of the Australian government.”

The government says it continues to support Ukraine and condemns Russia’s illegal invasion.

Foreign affairs department secretary Jan Adams also defended not having the Australian embassy in Kyiv open despite other Western nations re-opening consulates.

Ms Adams said no Australian embassies were open in active war zones and relocating back to Kyiv required a robust security assessment, which had recently deteriorated.

“And certainly none that have drone and missile strikes occurring,” she said.

Unlike some NATO countries, she said Australia didn’t have a defence presence within Ukraine.

“As soon as the conditions allow, I would be very pleased to relocate back into Kyiv,” she said.