Australia to Reopen Embassy in Ukraine

Australia will reopen its embassy in Kyiv in January 2024, marking the first time an Australian foreign minister has visited Ukraine since the onset of the war in 2022. Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced this decision during her visit, which aims to demonstrate Australia's solidarity with Ukraine amid ongoing conflict with Russia. The embassy closure, initiated by the former Morrison government, had been a point of criticism, especially as other nations resumed diplomatic operations. In addition to the embassy reopening, Australia is pledging over $77 million in aid to support Ukraine's recovery and energy needs, bringing total assistance to over $1.5 billion. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed gratitude for Australia's military support and emphasized the importance of Australia’s involvement in stabilizing the region. Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and addressing the challenges posed by Russian aggression.