(18 Dec 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
++AUDIO AS INCOMING++
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kyiv, Ukraine - 18 December 2024
1. Wide of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2. Closeup of Australian, Ukrainian and EU flags
3. Wide of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha walking to the conference with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong
4. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Andrii Sybiha Ukrainian Foreign Minister:
"A key topic of our talks was Australia's additional support to Ukraine's resilience front. We are deeply grateful for the military assistance. In particular, the recent provision of 49 Abrams tanks and 14 boats. The total amount of Australian assistance has amounted to over $1 billion, of which $880 million is military assistance. The situation on the battlefield remains very difficult, the need to strengthen our soldiers remains extremely urgent. That is why today I have requested additional military support, including Australia's famous Bushmaster."
5. Journalist taking photos on phone
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Penny Wong, Australian Foreign Minister:
"I've described President Putin's act of using the Russian veto to justify and continue his own illegal actions as the acts of a coward. And he has now sunk to new lows in inviting North Korea to cooperate to try and win this war. It is a reminder that our security, as between the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific are interconnected. Australia stands with Ukraine and we want you to win this war on your own terms. We want Ukrainians to live in peace, to be able to rebuild their lives and their homeland."
7. Wide of conference room
8. Closeup of cameraman
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Penny Wong, Australian Foreign Minister:
"I'm very pleased to announce that we are now able to reopen our embassy in Kyiv. We always said we would do so when it was safe to do so. We have been working to re-establish the security arrangements to enable this to happen, and I'm very pleased to be here to announce the reopening of the Australian Embassy."
10. Various of ministers during the conference
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Penny Wong, Australian Foreign Minister:
"We have also previously announced $30 million for drones and $50 million for short-range air defense systems. And in 2023 we gifted 120 Bushmasters. I have heard my friend's request for further assistance and obviously, I will take those requests back to Australia for further consideration."
12. Wide of ministers leaving the conference
13. Closeup of Ukrainian sign
STORYLINE:
Australia will reopen its embassy in Kyiv, foreign minister Penny Wong said during a visit to the Ukrainian capital on Wednesday, while her Ukrainian counterpart requested further military support including 'Bushmaster' armored vehicles.
Stressing the need for continued support, Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said the value of Australian assistance to his country so far exceeded $1 billion of which $880 million was military assistance.
"The situation on the battlefield remains very difficult, the need to strengthen our soldiers remains extremely urgent," he said.
Wong said she would take Ukraine's requests back to Australia for consideration and pledged her continuing support for the Ukrainian people.
"Australia stands with Ukraine and we want you to win this war on your own terms. We want Ukrainians to live in peace, to be able to rebuild their lives and their homeland," she said.
AP video by Vasilisa Stepanenko
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