By Kat Wong and Jacob Shteyman in Canberra

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has expressed disappointment over a public stoush between Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, and has vowed to lobby the US president to reconsider his position.

Both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Mr Dutton have set Australia apart from the American administration by backing Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy following a heated White House row where Mr Trump threatened to stop support for the European nation’s defence efforts.

“The world needs to unite behind President Zelenskiy to stand up against a murderous dictator in Vladimir Putin,” the opposition leader told reporters in Queensland on Monday.

“I was disappointed by the scenes out of the White House, and I believe that President Zelenskiy requires the support of European countries, of the United States and countries like Australia as well.

“The Australian view at the moment is different to the United States, and my job as prime minister would be to lobby the president of the United States to reconsider his position in relation to Ukraine, because I think it’s in all of our collective best interests if we’re able to provide support to Ukraine.”

Though Mr Dutton threw his full support behind Mr Zelenskiy, he also struck a conciliatory tone on American concerns.

“The United States has an incredibly important role to play in the world, but it can’t be everywhere at once, and I think it’s important for Europe to step up,” he said.

“There’s no doubt that we can have a very strong relationship – not just with the United States – but we also have a very strong relationship with other key allies.

“I think the world now, more than ever, needs like-minded countries to come together.”

The prime minister has consistently backed Ukraine in the fallout of the argument and reiterated his support in remarks ahead of a cabinet meeting.

“The brave people of Ukraine, led so extraordinarily by President Zelenskiy, are fighting not just for their national sovereignty and for their democracy – they are fighting for the international rule of law,” he said.

“It is an easy choice that Australia has made, it’s a bipartisan position that Australia has had.”

Ukrainians around the world were emotional as they watched footage of the row unfold, said the nation’s ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko.

Countering a charge from Mr Trump that Mr Zelenskiy had not shown enough gratitude, Mr Myroshnychenko said Ukraine was very thankful to the US and other allies for providing support during the war, including Australia and New Zealand.

“We’re extremely grateful,” Mr Myroshnychenko told Sky News.

“I’m grateful, personally, the president is grateful, all (Ukrainian) people are grateful, because we are all democracies, and Ukraine is fighting for its freedom, for its independence, for democracy.”

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