The Australian embassy located in Kyiv has been directed to a temporary office in Lviv, a city that is in Western Ukraine, about 70 kilometres from the Poland border, as per the Foreign Minister of Australia.
On Sunday, Australia made the statement that it will be evacuating its embassy in Kyiv as the tensions between Russia and Ukraine seem to escalate further and the Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison has called out China to not remain silent on the crisis that is getting deteriorated quickly.
Europe and the United States of America have stepped up their warnings of an anticipated attack by Russia on Ukraine. The Kremlin in an attempt to jostle for more influence in the area has rejected the joint EU-NATO diplomatic response to the demands of Russia to deescalate tensions and has cited it as disrespectful.
While the Australian embassy is being evacuated, the Foreign Minister of Australia has said that the situation in Ukraine is reaching a very dangerous stage and further added that the autocratic unilateral actions of Russia on Ukraine are threatening. The bullying of Ukraine is something that is completely and utterly unacceptable, Morrison said. He advised the Australian in Ukraine to leave immediately by commercial means. The Australian government had already relocated other Australian-based staff members along with their family members from the mission in Ukraine.
Mr Morrison thanked the remaining three members of staff who were in Ukraine to provide consular support to Australians, some of whom were dual citizens of both countries.
The Foreign Ministry of Australia has also spoken against China asking them to stand up for Ukraine after China had criticised a meeting of the United States, Japanese, Australian and Indian Foreign Ministers that was held in Australia last week.
Morrison while talking to a news conference said that the Chinese government is very pleased to criticise Australia but has remained chillingly silent on the amassing of the Russian troops on the Ukrainian borders. He added that this type of coalition that is seeking to bully other countries is not something Australia will ever take a light stand on.
China being Australia’s top trading partner does not have good bilateral relations with the nation after Canberra banned Huawei Technologies from its 5G broadband network back in 2018 and the toughened laws against foreign political interference. The Australian government had also urged for an independent investigation into the origins of the Coronavirus that shook the entire world.
Australia has continuously supported Ukraine’s sovereignty and its territorial integrity. As per the statement made by the Labor leader of Australia, there was no excuse for the actions of Russia.