Extract from ABC News
Penny Wong and her Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha met in Kyiv on Wednesday, local time. (ABC News: Mazoe Ford)
In short:
Australia's ambassador to Ukraine will return to a reopened embassy in the country's capital Kyiv from next month.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong made the announcement during a visit to Kyiv on Wednesday, local time.
What's next?
Senator Wong also announced a new round of aid funding for Ukraine.
Australia will reopen its embassy in Ukraine's war-torn capital Kyiv, with Penny Wong making the announcement on the first visit to Kyiv by an Australian foreign minister since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
Shortly after the war in Ukraine began in February 2022, the previous government, led by Scott Morrison, ordered Australian embassy staff to evacuate Kyiv and relocate to "temporary" offices in neighbouring Poland because of the "increased risk".
That arrangement continued under the Albanese government.
Senator Wong said that from next month, Australian ambassador Paul Lehmann and his staff, who had been working from Warsaw, would return to Kyiv.
"We always said we would do so [reopen the embassy] when it was safe to do so," Senator Wong told a press conference in Kyiv.
"We are unwavering in our support for the people of Ukraine."
Ukraine's foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, said the relationship between the two countries remained strong and hadn't been damaged by the embassy issue.
"We deeply appreciate the embassy reopening … as the ambassador can get information first-hand, and more direct communication," Mr Sybiha said.
Penny Wong announced the reopening of Australia's embassy in Kyiv alongside Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. (ABC News: Mazoe Ford)
"Also, it's a show of solidarity with Ukraine. Australian people understand the hardships suffered by the Ukrainian people and we welcome deeper bilateral relations."
Australia's foreign minister said Australia continued to stand with Ukraine amid Russia's "illegal, unprovoked, unjustified and immoral invasion".
"This is an attack not just on Ukraine and your people, but it is an attack on all countries that rely on international rules for peace, stability and prosperity," Senator Wong said.
She said Russian President Vladimir Putin had "sunk to new lows" in using North Korean soldiers to "try and win this war".
"It is a reminder that our security, as between the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific, are interconnected," she said.
"Australia stands with you, and we want you to end this war on your terms. We want Ukrainians to be able to live in peace and to be able to rebuild their lives and homeland.
"We hope that I can return here and see a peaceful, stable Ukraine that has achieved an end to this war, on your own terms."
Senator Wong also announced Australia was providing $66 million to assist Ukraine with reconstruction and recovery, $10 million to help Ukrainians access heat and electricity, and $80,000 for a charity that supports vulnerable families.
She said the new announcements were on top of the $1.3 billion in aid already provided to Ukraine.
Last week the ABC reported that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) had finalised planning for security and IT arrangements to allow Australia-based staff to return when it was safe to do so.
Australia's ambassador to Ukraine, Paul Lehmann, met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in April. (Supplied: X)
But at that stage DFAT would not give a timeline for the return or detail what steps it still had to take.
The Albanese government had been strongly criticised by the opposition and some analysts for keeping the embassy closed when 70 other nations had moved back in.
Canada reopened its embassy, which is in the same building as the empty Australian embassy, in May 2022.
Penny Wong and Andrii Sybiha paid their respects to fallen Ukrainian soldiers at a memorial in Kyiv. (ABC News: Mazoe Ford)
Mick Ryan, a retired Australian Army major general and senior fellow at the Lowy Institute, told the ABC last week that the return of Australian diplomats to Kyiv was well overdue.
"Ambassadors are not supposed to be fly-in fly-out, or train-in, train-out, as the case may be," he said.
"Ambassadors are there to establish a relationship and to represent our country."
During a visit to Ukraine in August, the opposition's foreign affairs spokesperson, senator Simon Birmingham, announced the Coalition would commit to safely reopening Australia's embassy if it was returned to government at the next election.
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