Canberra - (Saba):
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that the old M1A1 Abrams tanks promised by the Australian government to the Kyiv regime have already been shipped and are "now on their way to Ukraine."
During an online press conference, the Australian Prime Minister indicated that these tanks, which had been decommissioned in his country, are currently on their way, and pledged to "continue providing military support to Ukraine."
He added, "We are also prepared to consider any proposal from the 'coalition of the willing' to send a peacekeeping force to Ukraine after peace is established there."
The Australian Prime Minister noted that his country has imposed "more than 1,400 sanctions against Russian citizens and organizations." He added, "We continue to consider what we can do to pressure Russia."
Previously, it was reported that Australia was facing difficulties sending 49 decommissioned American tanks to Kyiv due to the lack of formal permission from the United States before transferring Abrams tanks to another country.
It is noteworthy that since March 2022, Australia has been providing weapons and ammunition to Ukraine, including Bushmaster armored personnel carriers, M777 howitzers, M113 armored vehicles, anti-tank systems, and drones. Total Australian aid to Kyiv since that time has exceeded $1 billion, of which more than $880 million has been spent on weapons and ammunition purchases.
Australia has also sent military trainers to train Ukrainian forces in Britain, and since October 2023, an Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail reconnaissance aircraft and approximately 100 troops have been stationed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany to help protect Ukrainian supply routes. It is also known that at least 48 Australian citizens are fighting alongside Ukrainian forces.