War Clouds Loom: Australia Slaps Sanctions On Russia For Its ‘Invasion’ Of Ukraine
Canberra, Feb 23 : Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said Australia will join other western nations to impose financial sanctions on Russia, as he termed Russian troops entering the rebel-held areas of eastern Ukraine an “unprovoked and unacceptable invasion”. Morrison said targeted travel bans and financial sanctions will be imposed on eight individuals on Russia’s national security council who are “aiding and abetting” the “invasion”, and broader sanctions will be extended to the separatist Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.
The financial punishments bring Australia into line with the United States and United Kingdom, who announced sanctions overnight. “The invasion of Ukraine has effectively already begun. This invasion is unjustified, it’s unwarranted, it’s unprovoked and it’s unacceptable,” Morrison said. “We can’t have some suggestion that Russia has some just case here they’re prosecuting – they are behaving like thugs and bullies. “Australians always stand up to bullies, and we will be standing up to Russia.”
Sanctions extended to the separatist regions will target transport, energy, telecommunications, oil, gas and mineral reserves, as well as several Russian banks. Morrison said he also expected to impose sanctions on more Russian citizens and entities who seek to benefit from a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Morrison said Ukrainian visa applications would be moved to “the top of the pile”, and further support was being planned. “There are some 430, roughly, applications from Ukrainian citizens to come to Australia, they’re across a range of different visa classes; student visas, family visas and others, so I have asked for those to be concluded,” Morrison said.
“We will work very closely with [neighbouring countries] to deal with the likelihood of displaced persons. This is where we think we can provide some quite effective assistance.” He warned a full-scale invasion of Ukraine was “likely to occur” within 24 hours. Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially been given parliamentary approval to deploy troops abroad hours after reports that Russian forces had already rolled into rebel-held areas in eastern Ukraine.
The Australian foreign ministry said the Morrison Government is taking immediate action to sanction Russian individuals, organisations and banks as part of the international effort to impose a sharp cost on Russia for its unprovoked and unacceptable aggression against Ukraine.
“Targeted financial sanctions will mean Australian individuals and entities cannot do business with the following banks: Rossiya Bank, Promsvyazbank, IS Bank, Genbank and the Black Sea Bank for Development and Reconstruction. This is in addition to restrictions on Australians investing in the state development bank VEB. “We will amend the Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011 to extend existing sanctions that apply to Crimea and Sevastopol to Donetsk and Luhansk. This will impose strong economic sanctions in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk prohibiting trade in the transport, energy, telecommunications, and oil, gas and minerals sectors.” “We will also amend the Regulations to significantly broaden the scope of people and entities that Australia can list for sanctions to include those of “strategic and economic significance to Russia”. We are working with our partners to identify additional individuals who will be subject to these sanctions.”
“This is the beginning of our sanctions process, as we remain deeply concerned that Russia is escalating its aggression. We are determined to work with responsible nations worldwide to ensure any further invasion by Russia against its smaller, democratic neighbour incurs the high cost it deserves. “Regarding sanctions, we will not hesitate to further amend the Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011 to expand sanctions as necessary, and already have a wider package of sanctions on persons and entities in reserve should Russia escalate its unlawful conduct in Eastern Ukraine. “We welcome the actions taken by other likeminded countries who want to see a stable international order, notably Germany which has suspended the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project.”
