Voice of America
23 Sep 2022, 18:36 GMT+10
Sydney - Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong called on China to use its influence to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Wong spoke to reporters Thursday after a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Wong said she held a 'constructive' meeting with her Chinese counterpart.
Australia wants China to use its position as a permanent U.N. Security Council member to urge Moscow to stop the war in Ukraine.
Australia has promised to continue to provide military support to Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin escalated the conflict this week, including threatening the use of all weapons and ordering a mass mobilization of reservists, the first time since World War II.
Wong condemned Russia's aggression in her remarks Thursday.
'These threats are unthinkable and they are irresponsible,' she said. 'His claims of defending Russia's territorial integrity are untrue. No sham referendum will make them true. Russia alone is responsible for this illegal and immoral war, and peace must first lie with Russia withdrawing from Ukrainian territory.'
Australia is the largest non-NATO contributor of military aid to Ukraine. It has sent missiles and armored personnel carriers as well as humanitarian supplies and imposed sanctions on hundreds of Russian politicians, military commanders and businesspeople.
Canberra has so far spent an estimated $240 million on armaments and military support to Ukraine. Since February, Australia has granted visas to almost 9,000 Ukrainian refugees.
Opposition lawmakers want Australia to follow the United States and increase its assistance to Ukraine.
Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham said the world must continue to apply maximum pressure to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Get a daily dose of Australian Herald news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Australian Herald.
More InformationNEW YORK CITY, New York: The Trump administration is pressuring major food companies to remove artificial dyes from their products,...
BERLIN, Germany: German Lawmakers are debating whether to loosen the country's strict borrowing rules to fund military expansion. ...
The Voice of America may not live up to its ambitious name for much longer. Michael Abramowitz, the director of VOA, said in a Facebook...
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. President Donald Trump has joined Israel's war on Yemen's Houthis, days after the group said it would resume...
LOMPOC, California: NASA launched a new telescope into space this week to study the origins of the universe and search for hidden water...
AUSTIN/SANTA FE: Texas/New Mexico have reported 28 new measles cases in the past five days, bringing the total to 256 since the outbreak...
Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], March 17 (ANI): The 13-year-old Rajasthan Royals (RR) batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the youngest Indian Premier...
New Delhi [India], March 17 (ANI): As the Raisina Dialogue commences in New Delhi, Polish Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Wladyslaw...
Coffs Harbour [Australia], March 17 (ANI): Avani Prashanth shot a superb 5-under 65 in the final round of the Australian Women's Classic...
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], March 17 (ANI): Star India batter Virat Kohli started practicing in the nets ahead of Royal Challengers...
A second man has died from Japanese encephalitis virus in New South Wales on March 6, the state's health authorities confirmed on Friday....
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has announced a Coalition government would introduce legislation, based on an American law used to pursue...